5 Creative Ways to Engage Students with Career Services
As has been documented many times in NACE survey research, fewer than half of students actually visit the career center, even though the ones who do find career services to be super helpful. Some don’t realize these services exist. Others don’t know they’re free. And for online or part-time students, it can be easy to miss out altogether.
Many universities have started making career management a mandatory part of the core curriculum. They have introduced for-credit career coursework, incorporated career assessments into the first year course program, and/or required students to attend a resume workshop before applying for internships.
Besides this type of “requirement” approach, if you want more students to take advantage of career services, making them feel like a no-brainer as part of the overall college experience can also be an effective strategy. As the new academic year gets going, here are five ideas on ways to increase awareness:
1. Show off your success stories
Students want more than just a diploma; they’re looking for real-world experience like internships and volunteer work. Instead of just saying “we can help,” prove it. Share stats on how many students land jobs or internships thanks to your services.
Better yet, tell real stories and utilize social platforms to communicate more broadly. Highlight students who got their dream internship after resume coaching, or alumni who made big career moves through networking events. Faces and stories stick.
2. Launch a peer career counseling program
It’s natural that students turn to friends first. So why not make those friends career-savvy? Train a team of student advisors to help with resumes, interviews, and job searches. Not only will they offer trusted advice, but their involvement spreads awareness through social circles. Sometimes just knowing someone who works at career services is enough to spark curiosity.
3. Get social
Want students to notice you? Meet them on Instagram and TikTok. Post consistent, authentic content that feels relatable and useful. Share quick career tips, success stories, or behind-the-scenes peeks of workshops. Even better: let students help create content. Giving them a voice keeps things fresh and engaging.
4. Team up with professors and librarians
If students aren’t coming to you, go to where they are — in class and in the library. Professors and librarians are trusted guides, so make them your allies. Ask how career services can support their students, and collaborate on ways to bring career resources into their assignments or programming. You can even co-host social media campaigns or contests to make things fun and visible.
5. Connect students with alumni
Alumni are gold mines of wisdom and opportunity. Use your career center to bridge that gap. Try speed-mentoring sessions where students get quick resume feedback or mock interviews with alumni. Or host pop-up mentoring booths around campus – or virtually – with well-known grads. A little creativity goes a long way in making connections feel easy and meaningful.
Career services can be the launchpad students didn’t know they needed. It’s all about showing up where they are and making the value crystal clear.
