Graduate-placement rates encouraging for seniors

Graduate-placement+rates+encouraging+for+seniors

by Becca Harris/Staff Writer

As the work force becomes more limited, Simpson College faculty continue to offer guidance to prepare students for the real world.

There are a number of things one must do in order to excel in their career of choice, but learning is only one of them. At Simpson, the curriculum is continuing to change in order to better equip staff and students with the tools necessary to pursue their goals and dreams.

Simpson offers a number of career service and aid programs that better prepare students for the work force.

Jill Rossiter, interim director of Career Services, feels that there is a lot one can get out of their time at Simpson. Rossiter said that through the school and the services it offers, a graduate can better prepare for the future. However, Rossiter said that the next class of graduates will have an even more difficult time finding work in the job market than the graduates of 2008.

“It’s obvious everywhere and in everything we do; the full-time jobs just aren’t there, and there’s much more competition,” Rossiter said,

Rossiter said that students need to become involved much earlier in preparation for their futures. Even if a student doesn’t want to go through Career Services, she said the Internet is a great resource. The biggest piece of advice Rossiter recommended was searching, getting familiar with and learning about companies students might be interested in someday working for.

Ann Greubel, administrative assistant for Career Service, said she thinks that Simpson offers a world of great opportunities, especially through Career Services. Greubel said that the one-on-one services offered can allow students to search for specific majors and careers that they will benefit from. The services also provide a wide range of events and seminars that cater to students futures.

“We try and prepare students for all four years and then some, not just the before and after,” Greubel said.

Simpson ranges in the higher percentages as far as graduate success goes, according to Career Services. The school contacts every student six months after graduation to see how and what they are doing. Normally 80 percent of graduates respond. Out of that 80 percent, 85 percent usually have found a full- time job; 15 to 19 percent go to grad school; and 2 to 3 percent are unemployed.

Most other liberal arts colleges measure the success of their students throughout different time periods; there is no specific standard of measurement.

2009 Simpson graduate Molly Goslar has used her time at Simpson to pursue a future career. Goslar is currently living in Urbandale and is working at Youth Homes of Mid America. Here, she works closely with troubled youth alongside other staff members. The purpose of this program is to help prepare kids and transition them into the community.”I’m not exactly happy with where I’m at now, but you have to start somewhere,” Goslar said.,

From here, Goslar hopes to continue working her way up to a human resources position in dealing with management. She has no specific company in mind, but hopes to continue her career goals.

“Simpson has provided me with character references for possible jobs and was a huge in helping me find an internship,” Goslar said,

Nathan Seberg, a 2007 graduate, has also put his Simpson education to good use. In college, Seberg played football for four years as defensive lineman. He majored in sports administration and minored in management. Currently, he is an assistant strength and conditioning coach as well as the assistant athletic marketing director.

“I feel Simpson did a great job preparing me to be open and adaptable to different circumstances that come up in my life and job,” Seberg said,Seberg links his success with his participation in athletics during his time at Simpson. He said that he received a fair education at the college, but would like to extend that experience further to his upcoming students. Seberg often encourages students to think both outside of the box and objectively. He likes to see students actually applying learned concepts and terms into the proper series rather than just memorizing them.

“I understand that I am in an athletic setting still but nothing else has made me be more comfortable in communicating with people, problem solving and confidence like athletics did,” Seberg said.

“I would not change anything that I experienced at Simpson, but I am excited for current and future students to see what successes they will achieve in the future.”

Students wanting to take an advantage of what Career Services is offering are encouraged to set up appointments as early as possible. Greubel recommends starting during freshman year.

“One of our biggest struggles is getting the word out about taking advantage of this great opportunity,” Greubel said.

Career Services offers a Web site that allows both students and alumni to access any information from resumes and cover letters to internships and grad school prep.