Career Development Forum

Join consultant Mary Scott in a data-driven exploration of how U.S. students assess employers’ current use of technology throughout the recruiting process. Access unbiased research that explores candidates’ attitudes, preferences – and experiences with – recruiting platforms and tools. And discover – through the students’ lens – the impact of artificial intelligence [AI] during their job search.

Expert findings – mapped to unfiltered data – you won’t hear elsewhere!

What are you going to do with your Arts degree? Is a question that is commonly asked to folks who are pursuing a degree in Humanities, Social Sciences and Fine Arts. Combined with a question they have been hearing their whole lives - what are you going to BE when you grow up? Both these questions imply that you have to pick one thing and be one thing when you graduate. This notion of being something after you have received your degree can be all consuming for students starting out in their careers.

In this session we will look at deconstructing this idea of career identities. We will look at the problems labeling identities bring and how these labels can restrict creative thought and risk-taking in careers particularly for Arts students. We will look at how we can change the narrative around careers for Arts students in assessing identities yes, but also values, beliefs, wants and needs in determining their next steps in career planning.

Learning Outcomes:

• Be equipped with the skills and knowledge to talk to Arts students about career opportunities
• Understand the importance of questioning identities and the impact (positive and negative) they can have on careers
• Learn strategies for coaching Arts students in identifying their skills and value in the workplace

In alignment with the Career Everywhere movement, the University of Connecticut’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills launched the Career Champion Program in 2019 to build a university-wide community dedicated to student career development. Recognizing that students often turn to trusted faculty, staff, alumni, and mentors for career advice, insights supported by UConn’s National Alumni Career Mobility surveys, the Career Champion Program was designed to meet this need by equipping campus and community members with the tools, resources, and confidence necessary to support students' career readiness.

This cross-functional initiative engages over 1,100 Career Champions, including faculty, academic advisors, student affairs professionals, alumni, and employers, all of whom play a vital role in shaping UConn students’ professional trajectories. Career Champions receive curated, up-to-date career development information, labor market trends, and best practices through ongoing professional development and tailored communications. By embedding career guidance throughout the student experience, the program ensures that no matter where or with whom a student engages, they are met with knowledgeable, supportive guidance on their path to a fulfilling post-graduation life.

Now a model of institutional collaboration, the Career Champion Program exemplifies how universities can foster inclusive, scalable, and sustainable career ecosystems that support all students—regardless of major, background, or career interest. As a nationally recognized leader in career development innovation, UConn’s program provides a compelling blueprint for embedding career readiness across the higher education landscape.

By attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify the core components and strategic goals of UConn’s Career Champion Program.
• Apply best practices for engaging faculty, staff, alumni, and employer partners in meaningful, sustained career development efforts.
• Design or enhance a similar community-of-practice initiative on their own campus, using scalable tools and data-informed strategies shared in the session.

Amid shifting federal directives and growing scrutiny of higher education’s value, The Career Center remains committed to a student-centered approach to career development. The Center plays a vital role in helping students explore, prepare for, and pursue meaningful careers while realizing strong returns on their educational investment.

At the core of our work is a holistic approach that recognizes barriers such as limited access to tailored support, lack of career clarity or confidence stemming from low exposure to options, and restricted social capital needed to engage in career-building opportunities. This session highlights the creation of a new functional team—formed by reallocating resources—to provide leadership and dedicated capacity for expanding access to meaningful and tailored career development support.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify existing inclusive practices that expand access to career development support
• Explore opportunities to reallocate resources and/or leverage campuswide priorities and investments
• Evaluation benefits and challenges of implementing resource-intensive strategies to expand access to personalized, tailored career support