The Center for Career Services is continuing to provide individualized career coaching for students despite recent layoffs, officials say.
Administrators eliminated eight positions in the career center as part of hundreds of staff layoffs to close GW’s annual budget gap amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel Brown, the associate provost for University Career Services, said the career center will continue to offer individual and comprehensive career coaching for students looking to find employment during the pandemic.
“We recognize this is an unprecedented time and we are here to help students take the next step no matter where you are in your professional development journey from exploration to implementation – we are with you,” Brown said in an email.
Brown said the career center currently employs 24 full-time staff members. Career center staff had to make “difficult decisions” about staffing levels alongside other offices across the University, she said.
“We tried to make the best decisions possible that would create efficiency while not dramatically impacting the student experience,” Brown said.
Brown said the career center will continue to offer its traditional coaching services, including career exploration coaching and industry-specific coaching. She added officials will offer new opportunities, like group coaching, online modules and job and internship groups.
The career center has also expanded opportunities for students to engage virtually with employers, Brown said.
She said instead of the usual three career fairs this fall, the career center will host six virtual fairs. She said the career center will continue to host virtual informational sessions and interviews and launch city-based industry panels, in lieu of on-campus events.
Brown said career center officials have expanded KACIF travel grants to offer reimbursements for remote internship expenses like internet access and equipment. She said they have created tailored resources in Handshake to help students navigate the virtual environment and launched a new micro-internship site.
“There are thousands of remote and non-remote opportunities, across all sectors, on Handshake, QuadJobs and our new micro-internship site,” Brown said. “Postings show that many employers still want to hire even if the position is remote and that’s encouraging.”
