Few seniors have darkened the doorway of Simpson College’s Counseling and Career Services office this semester, but its director Denice Ross Haynes isn’t worried.

According to Ross Haynes, a lull in senior appointments at this time of year is normal.

“There’s the early bird seniors and the second semester seniors,” Haynes said.

Ross Haynes meant that there are seniors who utilize CCS’ services in the summer and early fall and those who wait until spring to take advantage of them.

Ross Haynes is also certain that though seniors may not be coming in at this time of year they’re using the services provided.

One popular service patronized by seniors is the Iowa Private College Consortium.

In the IPCC, private colleges in Iowa pool their resources and students to attract the attention of larger employers. Students send their resumes to the IPCC and employers will select students to interview for possible employment based on those resumes.

Simpson College has 87 resumes posted for employers – the largest number of resumes sent in by any school in the IPCC.

Haynes said she is always interested in attracting more seniors to the program.

The methods CCS has employed to gain exposure range from campus mail and e-mail to running the coffee shop and holding a Super Bowl Countdown while working with students.

One of the biggest successes in recent years has been the Career Fair where students have the opportunity to speak with potential employers.

According to Ross Haynes, seniors often avoid visiting CCS because they feel they’re too busy or unprepared to come in. She said students don’t have to have their resume perfect or know everything about their potential career to come in and receive help.

Also, some students make appointments before their senior year and don’t come back because they feel they’ve gotten all the help they need.

Senior Holly Hanson was pleased with her experience.

“I used them last year for internships and I think they did a nice job one-on-one,” Hanson said. “But if you don’t ask for help then you probably won’t get it.”

On the other hand, some students haven’t come in simply because they’re unaware of the services offered through CCS.

According to Ross Haynes, it’s important for students to gain confidence in themselves and their skills. She said many students are too modest about their abilities, and in the interview process that modesty can be a liability. She added that students must be comfortable expressing to employers their abilities and experience.

“If nothing else [we’ll try] to make you feel like, ‘Hey yes, I can,'” Ross Haynes said. “I think that is so critical in coming across in an interview.”