University Career Services: Helping You Find Your Passion and Purpose [Infographic]

Grand Canyon University is a missional university that strives to address the needs of the global community by nurturing Christian compassion and respect for others in all that we do. Our private university aims to prepare you for careers that can potentially make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, whether you find yourself in business, healthcare, engineering or other fields. To nurture the progress of our students, GCU offers university career services.

In This Article:

• What Are Career Services in College?
• Our University’s Career Services
• Ready To Start Your Journey at GCU?

What Are Career Services in College?

Career services in college are a collection of support services and resources offered by a university department, usually called the career services department or a similar iteration. Career services personnel specialize in helping you work toward your future career. These staff members can also work with graduates, whether you are a recent grad preparing for your first work experience or an established professional interested in switching jobs or careers.

Every career services department is a little different, but most universities generally offer services such as:

• Aptitude testing or career exploration 
• Resume assistance 
• Interview practice 
• Job and internship search

In short, the Career Services department can help you with everything from figuring out where your interests lie to strategizing for a job search or graduate school application process.

Benefits of Career Services

Many students find that career support can be vital for their success after graduation.¹ The Career Services department can help connect you to university-managed job and internship boards, offer professional networking and interview guidance and share professional development resources for career exploration.

Career services can have a positive impact on students. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveyed students from the class of 2022 and discovered that graduating seniors who accessed at least one service offered by career services departments received an average of 1.24 job offers. For every additional service the students used, their average job offers increased by 0.05. In contrast, graduating seniors who didn’t access any career services received an average of 1.0 job offers.¹

Internship services can be impactful. NACE notes that students who utilized career services as part of their internship strategy were 2.2 times more likely to earn a paid vs. an unpaid internship. Those who did receive a paid internship later received an average of 1.61 job offers.¹

Who Should Seek Career Services?

Every current college student should visit the career services department. Freshmen may access career services for help choosing a career field and profession, while sophomores may wish to receive guidance on developing a strong resume, networking and interviewing. Students in any year of their college education, but particularly juniors and seniors, can benefit from seeking help searching for internship opportunities.

As you settle into your senior year, accessing career services is even more important. The career services department can help connect you to professional networking opportunities and career fairs and help you get ready for interviews.

Our University’s Career Services

GCU’s Career Services offers comprehensive student resources, guidance and support to help you transition from your academic journey into a career. Our ambassadors and advisors can help you with everything from interview tips to networking and beyond. We can even advise you as you apply to graduate school.

Explore this snapshot of what GCU’s Career Services department offers:

GCU Career Connections

Our university’s Career Services are available both on our physical campus and in the digital space. GCU Career Connections, is a digital platform, available for our campus students, that connects a wide range of services for more efficient academic and career management.

The Career Services department strongly encourages GCU students to explore the resources available on Career Connections. Through this system, you can look for local internship opportunities and search for job positions in your chosen career field.

Through Career Connections, you can also schedule appointments with our career services personnel, register to attend events such as career fairs and work on your interviewing skills.

Professional Development Pathway

Another useful feature of Career Connections is a checklist that allows you to create a blueprint for your academic, career and spiritual goals. This personalized plan can help you manage schoolwork, strengthen your faith and prepare for your career. Your professional development pathway is organized by your class level so you can keep moving in the right direction year after year at GCU.

You can access Career Connections by logging into your Student Portal and selecting the Career Connections widget. Alternatively, download the Symplicity Jobs and Careers app to access it on your smartphone, or you can use the web-based app on your computer. Use the same credentials as your GCU Student Portal.

Career Compass

Not every college student knows exactly where they envision themselves after graduation. If you’re feeling a bit lost and not quite sure what you want to do after graduation, consider using GCU’s Career Compass. This is an easy-to-use self-assessment tool that you can complete entirely online. It will lead you through a series of questions about your interests, preferences and skills. Then, it will offer some guidance on which types of career paths might be well-suited to you.

Our Career Compass may also be a good choice for alumni who are thinking of switching to a new profession or a different career field altogether. Even students with a set career goal may change paths after internships, making the Career Compass a valuable tool.

Resume Workshops

Our university career services offer regular events designed to bolster your career readiness, including resume workshops. Students may struggle to put together a polished, professional-looking resume, but these workshops can help. Our career advisors will walk you through resume creation from start to finish, offering tips on everything from formatting it properly to ensuring that all the pertinent information presents you in the best possible light.

Career Fairs

GCU Career Services connects students with employers, offering access to jobs, internships, volunteering and graduate school opportunities across many industries. Our personalized support and commitment to career readiness help set GCU apart, preparing you with practical skills that can help make an impact.

Campus students can register for these events through Career Connections and then arrive ready to network. Dress in business-appropriate clothing, bring copies of your resume and be ready with an elevator pitch that introduces you in a professional way.

Our career fairs are great opportunities for professional networking. To get the most out of the experience, spend some time researching the companies that will be in attendance. Identify the ones you’d like to focus on and think about why you would want to work there and what skills you would bring to their team.

As with all types of professional networking, follow-up is crucial. Later, send a polite thank you note to the representatives and reiterate your interest in the organization.

Ready To Start Your Journey at GCU? 

GCU is pleased to offer a wide range of university career services and student support opportunities. Beyond this, we offer tutoring, health and wellness services, library assistance and tech support. Having strong career services is a key part of a great college experience, and GCU’s dedicated Career Services department can help you prepare for life beyond graduation.

At GCU, your education and career preparation go hand in hand. As you pursue degrees like the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, the Bachelor of Arts in Communications or the Bachelor of Science in Applied Business Analytics, you’ll have access to career services every step of the way — helping you build skills, expand your network and prepare for career opportunities after graduation.

Fill out the form on this page to connect with a university counselor to discuss your future at GCU.