There has been some shifting going on in a first-floor Lile office. The first big change is in the name. What was formerly known as “Career Services” is now called “Career and Corporate Development.” Secondly, the focus has “broadened” according to Barbara Harvel, director of Career and Corporate Development.
“We have put a new and more demanding focus to obtain more internships for OBU students,” Harvell said. “Also, as director I will be contacting companies and organizations regarding corporate gifting.”
The general purpose of the department is to help students realize their personal and career goals through job placement. In order to receive help from the department, students must first take the Focus Assessment
“Focus will help the student develop an accurate picture of [his/her] personal strengths, needs and preferences, and will help them develop a sound career plan,” Harvel said. “Using the self assessment tools guide will guide the student through the career planning process that first helps broaden horizons and then, narrows down occupational and educational choices. Here are five sections to the FOCUS assessment: Interests and Values, Education and Training, Personality, Leisure Preferences and Skills.”
This assessment can be reached online from Tigernet by clicking on the Career Services and FOCUS sections respectively.
Harvel encourages all students to take the assessment. The results may be printed out and then taken to Lile 127 to be discussed if the student wishes.
Another function of the Career and Corporate Development office is to help students create their first professional resume`. The office helps with editing, printing with two professional paper choices and with cover letter writing.
“We contact companies to come to campus to interview students twice a year,” Harvel said. “Many companies are interviewing for positions and also internships. Also, some companies come on campus just to present about their companies so the students can learn more about them to see if they would like to start a career with them.”
Next year on February 7th, the Career and Corporate Development office will host a Career Fair in the Walker Conference Center. Companies who have or will have representatives on campus at some point this school year include Dillard’s, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Northwestern Mutual, IMG International and Murphy USA.
