Turning Students Into Employees
By: Jenny Wells
SAVE THE DATE: The UK Fall Career Fair will be held Oct. 7-8, 2009.
With a new director and a professional staff ready to serve the campus, the University of Kentucky James W. Stuckert Career Center goes above and beyond what most people would expect. Not only does the center provide large career fairs and job-searching databases to students, but the staff actually trains UK students and alumni on how to land that first real job, and how to turn their skills and interests into satisfying careers.
Francene Gilmer became the new director of the Career Center earlier this year. Originally from Hopkinsville, Ky., Gilmer worked for the Vanderbilt Career Center for 19 years (serving as director for the past eight) before deciding to come to UK.
During the few short months she has been here, Gilmer has taken an enthusiastic approach to preparing students for careers in today's world and understands the critical issues students are facing in the current job market and economy.
"Coming to the University of Kentucky has been an exciting process," said Gilmer. "The Stuckert Career Center has a tremendous staff and innovative programs that really prepare students for a new wave of careers, and I'm excited to be a part of that."
The UK Career Center serves UK students and alumni, as well as local, national, and international employers that are searching for employees. The goal is to provide high-level career education programs and to connect students and alumni to these employers from the freshman year and beyond with internships and employment opportunities.
Throughout the academic year, the center hosts several career fairs that have brought more than 500 employers to campus looking for interns and employees. These fairs are great opportunities for students to meet prospective employers, receive career advice from recruiters and expand their network of professional contacts for the future. The UK Fall Career Fair will be held Oct. 7-8, 2009.
In addition to the free career fairs, UK students and alumni have free access to an unlimited use of career counseling services including individual and group appointments, e-portfolios, mock interviews and use of the career resource library. The professionals at the Career Center also help students choose a major and explore career options; determine their best skills and interests and how they can apply them to a career; polish resumes; and even provide tips on how to negotiate a top salary.
"There is a lot of energy at the University of Kentucky," Gilmer said. "It's a very dynamic institution, and I am thrilled to be a part of a program that is turning our students today into successful employees of tomorrow."
For more information, visit the James W. Stuckert Career Center Web site or call (859) 257-2746.
