Going above and beyond to help K-Staters land the job
In the overwhelming world of job searching, K-State’s Career Center is a beacon of guidance and support for many K-State students. Located in the new Berney Family Welcome Center, the Career Center’s team focuses on providing students with the right tools to land a job or internship.
The Berney Family Welcome Center, renovated with philanthropic funding through gifts given to the KSU Foundation, opened in June of 2016 and has been providing enhanced experiences for current and prospective students to cultivate their futures.
Kerri Keller, executive director of the Career Center, believes in the long-term importance of getting students ready for their future careers and says the new facility provides an area for student-employer relationships to form and flourish.
“We really appreciate being in this building. We can now do workshops and group activities that we weren’t able to do before,” Keller said. “We know that employers have been very impressed and have really loved the interview rooms. They have raved about them. Making our industry guests, who are visiting campus, comfortable in the most positive way we possibly can is something we are able to do in this facility. We couldn’t quite do that at the same level in Holtz Hall.”
Sterling Muse has benefited from what the Career Center has to offer. He is from Manhattan, Kansas, majoring in business marketing and is graduating in May to pursue a career in corporate sales. Muse has not only utilized the Career Center’s services but has been a part of their team as a paraprofessional for the past three years.
“The Career Center has given me a new perception on being a student and a worker,” Muse said. “Having a job that focuses on helping other students helps me at the same time. The things I’m teaching those students, I’m also teaching myself.”
Like thousands of other students on campus, Muse has used the Career Center to get a leg up on the competition.
“I’ve really taken advantage of the drop-in advising sessions. They critique your resume and cover letters or go through a mock interview with you,” he said. “They do everything they can to get you interview ready.”
- In 2016 the Career Center had 22,937 student interactions
- 94 percent of 2016 K-State graduates are employed or furthering their education
- Last semester, 417 students took more than 600 items from the Career Closet, which offers professional clothing for free
- Currently 14 K-State students are employed at the Career Center
To support the Career Center, you may make an online gift or contact Heather Strafuss at 785-775-2146 or heathers@ksufoundation.org.
