Insider Insights: Career Services, A Discussion with Nathan Elton, Director of the Career Center at the University of Delaware

In 2019, I was fortunate to hear Terry Gross interview Dr. B. Janet Hibbs and Dr. Anthony Rostain about their book “The Most Stress Years of Their Lives:  Helping Your Kids Survive and Thrive During the College Years”.  My background in advising college students afforded me familiarity with many of the topics they discussed, however, one point really stood out.  Students attending college now are going to school in a different century than their parents.  Having recently become a parent myself, I feel for parents trying to help their students navigate this new educational landscape that seems to become more complex each year.  In an attempt to address this knowledge gap and alleviate some anxiety related to college, I thought it would be helpful for those applying to college to gain some perspective on a few of the many resources offered by institutions of higher education.  Some college and university resources are specific to certain times in students’ undergraduate careers while others may play a role throughout students’ undergraduate experiences.  This year my blog will have a theme: “Insider Insights”.  It is my hope that these blog posts will help demystify this process.

Earlier this year, Nathan Elton, Director of the Career Center at the University of Delaware was kind enough to share his time and insights on how students should be thinking in terms of preparing themselves for life after college.  I was excited to speak with Nathan, who has worked in some capacity in the field of Career Development and Advancement since 2002 at Penn State University, Villanova University, Oberlin College and Conservatories, and Davidson College.  Nathan attributed many of his views on career advancement and development to his diverse work experience, connections to employers and workforce development professionals, and research such as the Gallup-Purdue Index on (Great Jobs. Great Lives. The Value of Career Services, Inclusive Experiences and Mentorship for College Graduates). Our first conversation focused on the following question: Are there things prospective students should be mindful of in terms of Career Services when considering their college options beyond placement rates? When applying to college, most students are interested in majors, student/faculty ratios, sports, social life, study abroad options, school location, but I am not sure how many consider the support provided by Career Services.  

Nathan gave me a very expansive and thoughtful response to this question.  He recommended taking a holistic look at universities’ priorities on career development and advancement, as well as, taking a closer look at how these views trickle down to the department level and impact students’ outcomes.  Since universities provide a plethora of information to prospective students and families, consider the messaging related to career options.  Look for career success initiatives within institutional, college, and departmental strategic plans and goals, and data on how they have achieved results in these areas.  The Career Center should be able to provide you with information on where graduates are headed immediately after graduation.  Longitudinal information on post-graduation paths is also extremely helpful, since there tends to be a lot of movement in the first few years after graduation.  Most universities have not collected this information, however, LinkedIn is an excellent tool for reviewing career paths for more experienced graduates.

Students who have an intended major in mind, should contact the academic department for information on how the department is building internships and professional experiences into the curricular pathway.  Another good question: is there support available to students pursuing internships in fields known to provide unpaid internship experiences (policy, non-profits, social service, health, and startups)? Even if a student is economically stable enough to intern without payment, in most cases there are additional costs—relocation, travel, rent, food.  Are there grants or fellowships available to students who would otherwise be unable to afford expenses related to valuable non-classroom experiences? Other questions to address within the academic department of interest: How is the department building relevance into their curriculum?  Are they helping students think about the skills that will be necessary for their futures, beyond critical thinking and communication skills, more technical skills including project management, data analysis, and coding?  Are there relevant minors, students can pursue to add to their skill set for example project management?  Can students earn certificates for developing skills related to data analysis?  Is credit given for completion of coding boot camps? 

Hands on experience is key in terms of skill development, self-awareness (is this a role a good fit?), and networking opportunities.  Look for universities building out and giving ample opportunities to get hands-on experience in leadership and service through internships.  Are the universities you are considering offering diverse opportunities for students to get exposure and build networks through their alumni, bringing in germane speakers, and providing project-based learning in the classroom?  Universities with robust and active alumni networks will play a key role in future career prospects.  Students need to work on building their networks and finding individuals who will support them while they are at school and after graduation.  This network should include mentors they meet throughout their collegiate career and include but are not limited to advisors, faculty, and alumni.  These coaches should help students understand themselves, gain perspective on the many directions their interests could take them, and aid students in designing a path to their own goals and success.

Information related to universities’ priorities on career advancement and development can be obtained in several ways.  Some universities include relevant details in written material sent to prospective students or highlight student experiences that touch on these points on their websites.  Alumni might be active participants in the application process or during campus preview days for admitted students. Student tour guides might address some of these initiatives or resources available to students to promote career development during campus tours.  If you have specific questions that have not been answered through your initial contact with a university, contact them again.  When reaching out to college representatives or departments with questions, take note not only of their responsiveness, but also the depth of the information they are willing and able to provide.  Is it possible for you to speak with students who have had impactful mentors during their university experience, students who have benefited from project-based learning, students who have interned and received university support to make their internship experience possible, and students who have strong ties to the school’s alumni network?  Whether or not a university is willing to provide you with this type of information is very telling in terms of the level of support they provide to students working towards post-graduation goals.