The Office of Career Services

The Office of Career Services

Though SVSU historically has helped students find employment at graduation, the Office of Career Services dates from 2000, when SVSU hired Michael Simon as director of career planning & placement. In 2009, as part of an administrative reorganization at the vice presidential level, it underwent a name change to Office of Career Services and a transfer from the Student Services division to the Enrollment Management division. In 2012, the office migrated to the Center for Business & Economic Development.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) was so impressed with staff-created career planning tutorials launched in 2008 it designated them “best practices” and in December 2009 invited Simon’s successor, Mike Major, to deliver a webinar on the subject.

On-line implementation of the Cardinal Career Network in July 2010 was a seminal development for Career Services. It enabled the university to turn its students into active job seekers from the moment they arrived on campus. Prior to the network’s establishment, a student interested in a job or federal work-study opportunity would visit Career Services to file an application and then wait for first-come-first-considered processing with minimal attention of individual aptitudes, skills or interests. The Cardinal Career Network allowed for uploading of files to determine student eligibility for on-campus employment and filtered them. Students could compete for jobs using their résumés and cover letters. The Cardinal Career Network, also available to SVSU alumni, linked to NACE postings and a database of available national and international positions. The Office of Career Services offered numerous workshops and employment fairs, both general and industry-specific.

In addition to full-time employment following graduation, students at job fairs can apply for internships and co-operative education opportunities with Great Lakes Bay Region employers.

Students can test their marketability even before graduating by attending employment fairs held annually on campus.