CAREER COUNSELOR'S CORNER
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Carla DeVelder, Career Services Director, University of Nebraska Law School [By John J. Barnes] Imagine what it must be like to be eight years out of law school and suddenly find yourself a peer of the very professors who once taught you. That was the position Carla DeVelder found herself in during the spring of 2003.
“I think this was easier for the professors
office and that if she won, I should apply for
in the Midwest region. For those going out of
than for me,” she offered. “I had just become
the job.”
state, alumni are important connections. “We have an extensive alumni base that is very
Nebraska Law School’s new Career Services Director and doing so after having been a
We asked what happened.
generous with its time and expertise. Part of the job of this office is to maintain contact
student at the same place was slightly surreal. Almost the entire faculty was the same
“She won. I sent a letter to the Dean, was in-
with our alumni and, when possible, utilize
from when I was a student! It was an adjust-
terviewed, and got the job! At about the same
them to assist current students.”
ment for me to look at my former teachers
time, I got pregnant, and the new position fit
as colleagues and peers. Everyone was very
perfectly with the changes in my family. It
We asked about any initiative she has started
gracious, however, and went out of their way
definitely was a memorable and happy point
which seems to be working, and she was
to help me ease into my new role. The tran-
in my life.”
quick to respond.
We asked how Carla was faring with the new
“Technology is wonderful. I’ve started email-
sition has been very comfortable.” Carla was born in Parkston, SD, and majored
job and new child.
ing students individually to find out what they need from us. I have a form for each of them
in Criminal Justice at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. It was during these for-
“Great,” she said. “I guess I gravitate natu-
mative years that she decided to spend her
rally to fast-paced, service-type jobs.
teria. Based on what I learn, I respond with
life in public service helping others.
There is just myself and an assistant in my
jobs for which they might apply, plus sug-
to fill out to describe their job-search cri-
office, so we keep very busy coordinating the
gestions of other places they might look. For
At law school at the University of Nebraska,
on-campus interview seasons, career-re-
the third-year students, I email the class to
she began working in the Career Services
lated programming for the student body, in-
determine who is still looking for a job. Once
Office answering phones, filing, and doing
dividual counseling and resume review, out-
I can pinpoint those students, I go to work to
other useful jobs for the Career Services Di-
reach to students, plus helping alumni. We
help them as much as I can. Some students
rector. After Carla graduated and became a
have a saying in our office: once a student,
have the perception that their Career Ser-
public defender in the Douglas County Public
always a student. This means that alumni
vices Office is supposed to find them a job.
Defender’s Office in Omaha, she and her old
can access almost every service that we offer
By the third year, they understand that this
Career Services Director continued to keep
for current students. That includes help with
is their quest, not ours. However, it is our
in touch.
resumes, cover letters, job referrals, and the
job is to help make their job easier, and at
like. It keeps us busy, I can assure you!”
Nebraska we do everything we can to help.”
“I loved public defender work,” Carla confesses. “The first week in my position, I
Carla says that the University of Nebraska
found myself in court. The pace was fast and
Law School just the right size for a law
relentless, which can be both invigorating
school: big enough to offer a diverse cur-
and grueling.”
riculum but small enough to be a real com-
When asked why she left, she laughed.
to get to know every student and to provide
“I don’t think I consciously thought about
assistance to all who seek it.
munity. That is a benefit to her, as she tries
leaving, but during one of my conversations with my old Career Services Director, she
The school graduates approximately 120
mentioned she was going to run for political
students per year, with roughly 70% staying
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