Career services leadership and advocacy

Just wondering, Reader- If your busiest employers disappeared tomorrow, would your students notice? They post jobs. They show up at fairs. They host info sessions every fall. But here’s the real question: Are they actually partnering with you—or just passing through? Many career centers track employer activity. But high activity doesn’t always mean high impact. Some of your most visible employers might also be your most transactional. They’re here for the seniors, not the student journey....

Hi, Reader- Across the country, career centers are being told to trim the fat. But what happens when there’s no fat left? A 5% cut means scaling back hours or shelving a program.A 10% cut? That’s the difference between keeping your career management platform… ...or sending your staff to professional development they desperately need. And let’s be honest—your staff is already stretched thin. You’re covering more students, more employers, more reporting… with less support. You know what’s at...

Helllooooo, Reader- First Destination Survey season is here—and for many, the numbers aren’t looking great. If your FDS response rate is under 50%, you’ve got a problem. And if your knowledge rate is below 65%, you're not alone—but you are in risky territory. In a recent Ask Me Anything session with Career Services Accelerator members, the most urgent topic was clear: getting more students to complete the FDS. It wasn’t just about compliance or NACE standards—it was about credibility. What...

Hey, Reader- May 1st is College Decision Day. Students are committing. Parents are exhaling.Instagram feeds are full of campus lawn signs and celebratory selfies with captions like “So proud of my future Husky/Spartan/Seagull/Artichoke!” It’s a milestone. But it’s also a moment of vulnerability. Because once the hype dies down, the questions start creeping in: Will I make friends? Did I pick the right major? What am I going to do with this degree… and what even is a bursar? And yet, most...

Hey, Reader- Your space is saying something. Even if your student ambassadors never said a word about career readiness on the campus tour, students, families, and community members are picking up the message loud and clear. The question is—does it match what you want them to hear? I joined the EdUp Campus Planning podcast to talk about how the physical and symbolic presence of career services can shape everything from student engagement to institutional reputation. 🎧 Listen to the full...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Reader! There’s an Irish proverb that says: And while I fully support both, let’s be honest—when cynicism sets in, neither a nap nor a joke is enough to pull you out of it. You know that moment when someone shares a new initiative, and instead of feeling inspired, your brain instantly goes Oh sure, that’ll work—heavy on the sarcasm? Or when you find yourself rolling your eyes before a meeting even starts? Or when the phrase I’m just here so I don’t get fired basically...

Hey, Reader- If you read last week’s newsletter, you know that a landscape analysis helps you understand where career services fits into the broader campus ecosystem—and where it could have a bigger impact. Fast forward: you’ve had conversations with key stakeholders, gathered insights, and started identifying patterns. Maybe you’ve confirmed some things you already knew. Maybe you’ve uncovered gaps, opportunities, or support you didn’t expect. Now comes the hard part: deciding what to do...

Happy March, Reader! Another big meeting. Student success, enrollment, internships—career services should be part of the conversation. But once again, it wasn’t. Not because your work doesn’t matter. Not because people don’t care about career outcomes. But because career services isn’t positioned as central to the institution’s success. Faculty don’t always connect career readiness to their courses. Leaders set retention and student success goals without linking them to career outcomes....

I have a confession, Reader. As a career center director and AVP, I did something regularly—like every single day—that I’m not proud of. I deleted vendor emails without reading them. Why? Bandwidth. Capacity. Funding. Sometimes I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even think about exploring new tools. Dig hole, insert head. But now, looking back, I realize I was missing out. Here are some real examples of mistakes I made: ❌ Hiring an instructional designer and using tons of career advisor...