Justine Durham, a Mizzou graduate and St. Louis native, is the College of Arts & Science’s first Career Coach. Justine will primarily be working with Juniors and Seniors who are looking for assistance with obtaining full–time employment nearing graduation. Durham worked at the MU Career Center as a Career Specialist and Supervisor for four years, where she assisted students with major/career exploration, resume revision, conducting mock interviews and more to ensure students are best prepared to enter the workforce.
In this new role as the Arts & Science Career Coach, she hopes to guide students nearing graduation in acquiring post-undergraduate experiences, whether that be full-time employment, graduate school, or meaningful gap year experiences. “As a graduate of Mizzou, I know how involved Mizzou students are, whether that’s through part-time/on-campus employment or leadership in student organizations. Sometimes it can be difficult to best market the skills gained in those experiences, to translate to full-time employment.” Students can revisit the A&S Career Coach for advice and guidance every step of the way, hopefully minimizing some of the mystery of entering the workforce.
Job search and more
Durham, who obtained a degree in Bachelor of General Studies, which is housed in Mizzou’s College of Arts & Science, learned first-hand the importance of participating in high-impact experiences, such as service learning, internships, and volunteering to compliment her degree. Especially for individuals pursuing majors that aren’t directly related to a profession, getting experience can be a big help in acquiring full-time employment after graduation.
She also helps students who are unsure what they can do professionally with their major. “I want students to know that to get from College to their Career, it needs to start before the last semester of college. To get the best results, you should start sooner rather than later, and if you’re unsure of if you’re on the right track or not, or you’re in your junior year and haven’t started career planning at all, you should visit me.”
Tools of the trade
For students in any stage of their career planning or job search process, there are several tools that can be used, including Handshake, which is an interactive portal that connects students with jobs, internships, and career events. “What sets this job search engine apart from other platforms is the employers advertised on Handshake, have been vetted by various Career Services staff.” Durham also recommends LinkedIn, which is “A great way to network and learn about opportunities.”
Durham says her biggest tip for Arts & Science students, especially Juniors and Seniors is: “It often takes more than a degree to successfully obtain a post-undergraduate opportunity, and the sooner you start career planning the better.”