Career Center Helping to Further Students Past Graduation

Dean College Advisor Shane Benjamin with students. Photo Courtesy: Dean College

Dean College has introduced a few new additions to its Career Center over the past fall semester, giving students expanded support as they prepare for internships and job opportunities. The upgraded space now includes a headshot station, where students can quickly take professional-style photos for their LinkedIn profiles or applications, as well as designated areas meant to resemble real interview settings.

When asked about the DIY LinkedIn Headshot station and interview space, Director of Career Services Courtney Shimer said, “Students can access both the interview space and the DIY headshot station in the Dean College Success Studio (named by a Dean College student!), located within the Robbins Family Center for Advising & Career Planning. These spaces are designed to be easily reservable through Career Services and provide a professional environment for interviews, virtual meetings, and do-it-yourself headshots.”

The new interview spaces offer a quiet, organized environment for both practice and scheduled interviews, whether in person or online. Staff say the updates are designed to help students feel more confident and prepared as they enter the professional world.

When asked about this preparation for students, Shimer says, “It is the goal of Career Services to prepare students for professional success by providing practical tools, resources, and experiences that help them confidently transition from college to career. This includes supporting students in mastering interview skills, building a polished professional image, and developing networking strategies that align with their career goals."

She continued, "Our Success Studio offers resources to support student success—it isn’t just about having one piece of the puzzle; it’s about having the whole package buttoned up and leveled up. We want our students to be competitive in the job market, and our goal is to ensure all students have access to the tools they need to succeed.”

While the improvements are simple, they reflect the college’s continued effort to give students practical tools for career readiness. The Career Center plans to continue expanding its services throughout the year. Some other notes about the brand-new success studio mentioned by Courtney Shimer are:

• The interview areas allow students to practice virtual or in-person interviews

• The DIY headshot station provides students with the tools to take their own professional-looking photos for LinkedIn, resumes, and other career materials.

• The Career Closet, available down the hall from the Success Studio, offers professional clothing, accessories and personal care items for interviews, networking events, and presentations. While it has been around for many years, it has recently seen increased usage and updates this semester to better meet student needs.

• These spaces are part of Career Service’s larger mission to simulate real-world professional environments, helping students feel confident and prepared as they approach any professional experience!

Make sure to take advantage of all the resources made available and visit the Robbins Family Center for Advising and Career Planning located within the student center. For any questions contact your advisor or Courtney Shimer through email cshimer@DEAN.edu.