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:
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Hiring an instructional designer and using tons of career advisor time to build online career modules one at a time
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Subscribing to a virtual career center platform with ready-made, high-quality content
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Wasting hours trying to MacGuyver a clunky spreadsheet into an employer relations CRM
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Using an actual employer relations CRM built by people who understand employer relations
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Creating a DIY resume review tool that didn’t integrate with anything else
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Leveraging a platform that embeds AI resume reviews into a holistic career advising model
Oh, MacGuyver... I know. No need to rub it in.
What did I lose by ignoring vendors?
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS COUNTLESS STAFF HOURS SO. MANY. HEADACHES
So, let’s talk about how to vet vendors the right way—because not all tools are created equal.
And, since I’ve seen firsthand how the right vendors can transform career services, I’m also sharing why I’ve decided to partner with some of them—so you don’t have to make the mistakes I did.
How I vet vendors (so you don’t have to)
I know career services leaders don’t have time to sift through endless sales pitches. So, I've done the legwork.
I don’t just skim marketing materials—I dig into vendors’ motivations, test their tools, and push them with tough questions:
✔️ They’re in this for the right reasons. Their goal is to elevate career services, not just sell a product. ✔️ They listen to career services professionals. They take real feedback and make regular improvements. ✔️ They make your job easier, not harder. Onboarding is smooth, staff time isn’t wasted, and the ROI is clear. ✔️ They prioritize accessibility, data security, and compliance. FERPA, Title IX, ADA—these things matter. ✔️ I would actually use them myself. If I wouldn’t have adopted them as a director, I’m not recommending them.
My #1 value is integrity. Yes, these vendors pay me to promote them—but only because they’ve earned it. I’ve turned down companies that didn’t meet the bar. I don’t partner with just anyone.
And here’s the bigger picture: Sponsorships enable me to keep creating free content that helps professionals like you.
The first three vendors I’m working with?
They found me. They came to me because my LinkedIn content resonated with their mission.
They’re thinking deeply about the same challenges I talk about every day: scaling and elevating services, making a bigger impact, and helping career professionals do their best work.
Making career services work smarter: Meet my new partners
These three vendors stood out because they’re mission-aligned and focused on helping career services scale impact without adding complexity.
An all-in-one virtual career center that makes career services accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
A career management system that allows you to elevate career services to deliver superior outcomes for students and employers.
A holistic, highly curated, and easy-to-use career navigation software for students and advisors designed to engage students from orientation on.
Moving forward, you’ll see occasional product reviews, case studies, and deep dives into vendors I believe can help career centers scale services, improve engagement, and free up staff time.
Curious? I’ve also launched a Partnershipspage on my website, where I’ll be adding more details, insights, and resources over time.
Want to vet vendors like a pro?
If you’ve ever explored a new platform, only to realize later that onboarding was a nightmare, staff adoption was low, or the tool didn’t solve the actual problem—it’s not just you.
That’s why I created this free vendor vetting framework to help career services leaders cut through the noise and make smarter decisions.
P.S. Is there a vendor you want to know more about? Do you have experiences with uConnect, Career Forge, and/or AdvisorAI that you'd like to share? Let me know!
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