Across majors, disciplines and industries, recent college graduates report that faculty and staff were their prime source for career advice. In a 2018 Strada-Gallup survey, for instance, 81% of students said they found career-related information from faculty and staff to be helpful.
Faculty and staff working in a student’s area of interest can offer insight on career paths, contacts and necessary domain knowledge. But they may not be as familiar with all of the services available to students in the UAB Career Center — everything from interview training to professional branding.
In summer 2020, the Career Center piloted a new program called the UAB Career Influencer Network. The network “provides an opportunity for any faculty or staff member to learn how to best support students in becoming career-ready and achieving post-graduate success in today’s quickly evolving world of work,” said Meagan Mason, assistant director for the Career Center.
In partnership with the UAB Center for Teaching & Learning, the network has provided training to more than 160 faculty and staff from 19 different schools and departments. More than 25 Career Influencers have completed the program’s three modules.
"I so enjoy being part of the Career Influencer Network and joining our embracing community of faculty and staff genuinely interested in making a difference in how we prepare students for their post-graduation journey,” said Catherine Danielou, Ph.D., senior associate dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences. “I feel that the more I understand our global economy, our job market and the skills and competencies that are important to employers, the better I can help my students and encourage them to stay authentic and competitive as they prepare for their next challenge."
“I feel that the more I understand our global economy, our job market and the skills and competencies that are important to employers, the better I can help my students and encourage them to stay authentic and competitive as they prepare for their next challenge."
— Catherine Danielou, Ph.D., senior associate dean for Academic Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences
“The Career Influencer Network is a wonderful opportunity for cross-campus collaboration,” said Ramone Cooper, associate athletics director for Student-Athlete Services. “The development and knowledge gained through this series is applicable for faculty and staff, but the true beneficiaries are our students and their future careers.”
Participants who complete all three Career Influencer Network modules receive a certificate of completion and a career readiness toolkit with activities, rubrics and templates to facilitate connections between students’ academic experiences and their career goals.
“Our goal is to engage the entire campus in student career development — from orientation to graduation and beyond,” Mason said.
For fall 2021, sessions will be offered on the following dates. Visit the CTL page here to register. Email Meagan Mason at butlerm@uab.edu with questions.
- Module 1: UAB Career Center Services and Resources – 1 p.m. Sept. 22 and 28
- This one-hour workshop will provide participants with an overview of the services and resources available through the Career Center. Participants will identify resources and services to use at various points throughout the UAB student experience to maximize support of students’ career development journey.
- Module 2: Student Career Success Factors – 1 p.m. Oct. 20 and 28
- This 1.5-hour workshop will assist participants in identifying and exploring student career success factors. Participants will identify current and future opportunities to integrate and highlight these student career success factors into their work with students.
- Module 3: Student Career Planning and Career Launch – 1 p.m. Nov. 3 and 15
- This one-hour workshop will provide participants with tools, techniques and best practices to support successful student career planning and career launches. During this workshop, participants will explore the development of four-year career plans for students, identify opportunities to maximize resource utilization and role-play student career conversations.
