Career Development is experiencing changes at Simpson, as Kelsey Bolton is now the sole staff member in the department. Director of New Student Programs and Community Engagement Tayler Keitzer will take on the exploratory conversations of new students.
Bolton has also taken on the role of lead instructor for the May Term course COOP-119: Career Observation.
Career Development helps students in numerous ways, but much of it relates to getting ready for the professional world. From first year to senior, all students can benefit from being helped by Career Development.
“Helping students with their resumes, their cover letters, grad school applications, mock interviews, internships, job searching, kind of all those career related things,” Bolton said. “I’m still the go-to person for that.”
Bolton is also becoming the lead instructor for COOP-119: Career Observation. Creating course materials, recruiting instructors, training them and facilitating courses are all part of Bolton’s workload as lead instructor.
“That’s definitely something new to my plate,” Bolton said. “I’m really excited about it because I feel like it’s going to help me build those relationships with students in their first and second year.”.
With the help of Keitzer, Career Development is more apt to build relationships with underclassmen. Many new students have already been in contact with Keitzer through SOAR and welcome week activities.
“Taylor and I are both here to help students and help support them in any ways that we can related to their professional development,” Bolton said. “We really are striving to build those relationships early.”
Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students, Matt Hansen, has been involved in the changes as well. He ensures Career Development keeps operations as consistent as possible from the students’ point of view.
“Hopefully from the lens of the student, little or nothing,” he said. “What they’re coming here for is a specific opportunity in career exploration, and we have skilled and experienced people to give them that information.”.
New students can schedule a “Career Related Question” appointment with Career Development. Students can come in and discuss any questions they might have.
“Starting early on in your Simpson journey and development could just be, I want to go in and talk about different majors and how they relate to careers,” Bolton said. “That helps develop certain goals, we’re here to help with that goal setting.”
Hansen recognized this shift may be another step in the journey of Career Development and expected growth within the department itself.
“I think it’ll continue to evolve, and we have a commitment to come back at the end of thai term to reevaluate,” Hansen said. “To make sure, okay, are we meeting the students’ needs.”
Career Development helps a wide range of individuals, from freshman to alumni, as the department recognizes how often careers can change. With this experience, Bolton knows how to get Simpson students ahead in the job market.
“We’re not here just all about, ‘okay it’s almost time to graduate so let’s get you a job,’” Bolton said. “We’re here to help you develop to be a strong candidate for that job.”
