The Starr Career Development Center is perhaps one of Baruch College’s most valuable assets. Through the SCDC, students are able to utilize the center’s various services and opportunities in preparation for impending interviews and their careers. Many of these services include workshops, corporate presentations introducing students to potential companies, career fairs, the mentoring program and internship opportunities.
Additionally, SCDC also provides resume reviews, mock interviews and career counseling to establish the confidence of students in professional ambitions and skills.
Despite the strong benefits the career center maintains, there are a few improvements that could be implemented to further ensure the success of Baruch students.
There are several incentives for taking advantage of SCDC, yet many students may not be familiar with them. Social media is a great way to increase awareness of Baruch’s numerous programs, and although SCDC has an Instagram page, it seems somewhat difficult to find if one does not know where to look.
It would be beneficial for the career center to integrate a button on the website that links to its Instagram, allowing more students to be able to follow them and receive updates on SCDC events as Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms.
Sharing more success stories that outline how students specifically utilized the career center may also draw extensive interest.
Additionally, Baruch’s main Instagram account could post about SCDC more frequently in order to catch the attention of students.
Furthermore, mandatory appointment sessions for incoming students could be put into place — students will receive an introduction to SCDC and what they have to offer at the beginning of their first semester.
This will help newcomers to be aware of the SCDC’s services early on, rather than only discovering it when they feel it is already too late.
Another disadvantage Baruch students may face is managing a work-life balance. Several students have difficulty finding free time to do extracurricular activities, while others have chosen to participate in the study abroad program. This can make it challenging to attend Baruch’s career fairs. This also excludes busy students from the event.
If SCDC were to provide virtual career fairs, a greater number of students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend may utilize the same opportunity. This can be achieved through a webinar setting or telecasting, giving students the ability to upload their resumes and speak with potential employers.
As SCDC contributes significantly to one’s career path, all students should be informed of its features and be given the chance to put them to use. Increasing awareness of SCDC will cause more students to make the most of its services, leading to more successful students.
