One of the most compelling aspects of Stevens is the return on investment, with an average degree worth $2 million over 40 years. Stevens graduates are regularly placed at high-ranking companies, setting Stevens students up with extensive networking opportunities. The Career Center is a mediator between companies and undergraduate students as they learn how to navigate a professional relationship. The Stute spoke with Cherena Walker, Executive Director of Stevens Career Center, about how students can leverage this resource to their advantage.
Walker believes the biggest misconception about the Career Center is that it only helps students write resumes. She defines the Career Center’s goal as providing guidance and advice to students, as well as helping them to define their academic and career goals. The Career Center is also a resource throughout the job search process, from providing interview preparation to salary negotiation advice after an offer has been extended. She also wants students to remember that they will gain more by attending more events, and that one networking event may not be enough to secure a job. Career Center events are frequently well attended, leading to instances of capacity issues like last spring’s Career Fair, which led to last month’s Career Fair taking place over video calls on Handshake. The Career Center has coordinated virtual events to allow for an unlimited capacity for students and recruiters, which has the benefit of attracting companies based across the country and internationally that may not have been available to come to in-person career fairs. Multi-company interview days work well in person, where companies select students to meet on campus for potential employment opportunities.
Walker stresses the importance of networking, estimating that 75-80% of jobs are secured through a networking contact. Career Center events aim to help students improve their presentation skills while speaking to potential employers, and through attending networking events, students can expose themselves to dozens of career opportunities throughout their time at Stevens. A majority of company representatives at Career Center events are Stevens alumni, so they have a specific interest in hiring Stevens students. It’s important to make an impact and use limited time wisely; during last month’s virtual career fair, employers were marking down priority candidates after just 10-minute interactions. Applying to the company before a career chat, asking questions about the specific role and following up after, and reminding representatives that you applied and are still interested are essential steps in turning a brief interaction into an opportunity. Walker also notes that the Career Center is only responsible for connecting the students and employers, but employers and students are open to doing what they want with the time. Coming into a career chat with a clear goal and talking points will better utilize the time so that you get the best chance at presenting yourself.
As the university class size continues to grow, demand remains high from both students seeking jobs and employers looking to hire. Stevens’ Class of 2022 had a career outcomes rate of 97.3%, with 64.7% of students employed six months after graduation and 32.6% continuing education. A number of graduating students enter into Stevens’ Accelerated Masters Program (AMP) because of how streamlined the application process is: No application fee, no required standardized test, and undergraduate credits are applied to the graduate degree. The information site describes “Competitive applicants [as] those who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher,” though a Stevens student will be placed on academic probation if they have less than a 3.0 average, making any Stevens graduate a competitive applicant. Despite the graduate school outnumbering undergraduate students, Career Center resources and career outcome rate is only collected and reported for undergraduate students. Walker describes an AMP student with prior internship experience as an ideal candidate for job placement, which is reasonable, though the data to support this claim is not publically available.
The Career Center has resources available to undergraduate students at any point in their career or academic journey, and Walker encourages students to take advantage of the resources available. Students interested in learning more should visit the Career Center’s website or email the center at careercenter@stevens.edu.
