cultivate their professional skills through regularly pursuing certifications, attending seminars, and engaging in conversations with employers about what they’re looking for. Career Services has developed a “three-bucket approach” for the resources they offer students. They help students with Exploration, Navigational Skills, and Networking. These three “buckets” inform the staff’s priorities and methods for helping Cedarville students stand out in the job market. EXPLORATION: OPENING DOORS EARLY The first bucket, Exploration, starts early for Cedarville students – as early as freshman year. As career coaches, Reep and Arminio both expressed how some of their most fruitful conversations with students have been helping them discover God’s calling for their lives. “What I really try to do is encourage them to get as much information as they can,” Reep explained. “[They] follow the desires of their heart because they really are delighting themselves in the Lord. [When] that’s their treasure, their satisfaction, their identity, then I think those desires are going to be His desires.” Career Services encourages students to start preparing for their careers even while they are still exploring their options. They believe there is no better time to start cultivating professionalism and gaining experience than the present. This proved true for Peter Grinalds ’21, who nowworks at Procter & Gamble. After an internship with P&G his sophomore year, the company invited him back for a second internship and — ultimately — his current role. A part of his success came from his early start preparing. After three mock interviews with Career Services, he was ready to knock his interviews out of the park. “Now that I am on the ’inside’ of recruiting at Procter & Gamble,” he said, “I see so much more clearly how an internship or job offer can hinge on a candidate just being a good conversationalist and making other people feel at ease.” While students explore their career options and develop key professional skills, Career Services gives them a hands-on opportunity to practice what they're learning and gain real-world work experience: Cedarville's fall and spring career fairs. NAVIGATION: FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER FAIRS Cedarville’s career fairs draw employers from all over the country to the Doden Field House for a day of meeting and recruiting students. 2023’s Fall Career Fair set University records, with 180 employers and well over 1,000 students attending. In all, more than 400 employers will recruit on campus each year. For Cedarville, the employers’ interest is a major vote of confidence. Companies like General Electric, Procter & Gamble, Energizer, Honda, Google, and Northrop Grumman all participate in career fairs or send recruiters to speak in Cedarville classes. Brandy Cieniewicz is one such recruiter who regularly attends Cedarville’s fairs, recruiting for the Navy NUPOC program. “Cedarville University Career Fairs are top-notch,” she said. “Cedarville students are polite, confident, and intelligent. Cedarville students are very open to talking about options for their future and will approach my booth with questions.” It’s this kind of proactive, prepared behavior that opens doors for Cedarville students. When they put the Navigational Skills Career Services has taught them into practice, employers take notice. Christopher Nunan ’15, who is currently working for Honda, reflected on the impact that career fairs had on his student experience. “The opportunity to engage with such a large volume of employers for a school Cedarville’s size not only built my confidence and aptitude for engaging with employers,” he said, “it also helped me understand what real-world opportunities existed after graduation so I could determine how I wanted to apply and use what I had studied.” NETWORKING: ALUMNI IN ACTION Cedarville’s career fair success comes in large part from the help of alumni like Grinalds and Nunan, who open doors in their companies to hire more Cedarville grads anticipating the quality work and integrity Cedarville students offer. Chris Ashcraft ’98 sees this kind of ambassador work as missional. About 12 years ago, after a period of discouragement about work culture, he and his wife prayed for other believers to join his team. Only days after that prayer, his company’s Human Resources reached out to ask him for his help as a recruiting champion for Cedarville students. “Our Lord Jesus is so good!” he said about this call. “I was greatly encouraged to see God’s hand so evident and blessed to be reminded that He cares.” With the support of Career Services and the alumni network, Cedarville students have the practical help and spiritual encouragement necessary to pursue incredible opportunities for positions with impact across every industry. THE BIG 5: Jeff Reep's Advice to Students on Finding a Great Job (Hint: Start Now!) 1. You need more than a degree and a great GPA. 2. Have a standout résumé. 3. Build a network (with a goal of 25 names each year). 4. Learn the job search procedure. 5. Use the resources that are available. 8
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