The Elizabethtown College Career Development Center is empowering students and alumni in their professional growth by taking a modern approach to providing personalized, high-quality, career preparation.

“We want to prepare current students and alumni for their careers today, but also for those of tomorrow while giving them the tools and resources to be successful,” Elizabethtown College Director of the Career Development Center Maureen Brown said. “Our approach is highly personalized, offering individualized guidance that helps individuals stand out in competitive and fast-changing job markets – a significant advantage of a small, private college like Etown.”

Keeping Students on Track through the Career Action Plan 

Developed in the fall of 2024, the Career Development Center’s Career Action Plan serves as a roadmap to a successful professional journey for students. This dynamic, online, module-based program is designed to keep students on track with their career readiness and development throughout their undergraduate experience.

“The program has helped me better understand what steps to take to prepare for my future,” Chemistry major Neil Divins ’25 said. “I felt uncertain heading into my senior year, but going through the various action steps helped me be more productive about determining my goals and the next steps for my career path.”

The Career Action Plan unfolds across four levels: Explore, Engage, Enrich, and Embark. Students who complete the program receive a certificate to showcase on their resume.

Making Professional Development More Accessible

Etown’s Career Development Center offers students the ability to schedule one-on-one appointments with career counselors utilizing Handshake, a one-stop shop career hub. The digital platform is utilized by both students and alumni to find job and internship opportunities, as well as register for career-focused events.

Offering over 15 types of one-on-one appointments and personalized support for students at every stage of their career journey, Etown’s Career Development staff conducted 600 student appointments during the 2023-24 academic year. 

“Our staff members hold degrees in Higher Education Counseling/Student Affairs, are Certified Career Counselors, and have earned multiple additional certifications in the career counseling field,” Brown said. “Their expertise ensures that students receive high-quality, professional guidance tailored to their individual career goals.”

Student appointment survey data rated their experience with Etown staff at 4.91 out of 5 (0-5 scale) and 96% would recommend using Etown’s Career Development Center to a friend.

Beyond one-on-one appointments, the Career Development Center offers students career-focused events that include exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities across various industries, opportunities to connect with alumni and employers, and professional development workshops. Students are taking advantage of the opportunities as 1,019 Blue Jays attended these events during the 2023-24 academic year.

Bringing Career Preparation into the Classroom

The Career Development Center staff has integrated its offerings into Etown classrooms by introducing career-focused courses and offering tailored presentations as a part of existing courses.

Students across class years can sign up for one-credit Career Pathways Courses such as “Exploring Career and Purposeful Pathways” and “Professional Skills Development and Defining Career Goals. These courses help students identify meaningful career paths and gain practical experience in resume and cover letter writing, networking, interviewing, job or internship searching, and transitioning to the workplace.

Etown faculty and instructors also partner with the Career Development Center to incorporate career-focused programming into their courses. These customized presentations cover various professional development topics, equipping students with actionable insights and resources. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Career Development Center delivered 60 classroom presentations, reaching 894 students.

“These collaborations allow us to support students’ professional development directly in the classroom, reinforcing the connection between academic learning and career readiness,” Brown said.

Meeting Students Where They Are Through Career Peers

Career Peers serve as trained peer mentors for students, expanding the Career Development Center’s services. After extensive professional development training, Career Peers offer evening drop-in hours, ensuring students can access guidance at times that fit their schedules.

“This peer-to-peer model has been highly effective, as students often feel more comfortable discussing career-related topics with their peers,” Brown said. “By extending our office’s reach beyond standard hours, Career Peers help us meet students where they are, ensuring that career resources are accessible and relevant to their needs.”

Learn more about the Elizabethtown College Career Development Center.