By Ellie Parker, Features Editor
Joshua Meredith is the Career Center’s Director of Career Advising and Technology. He is in charge of ensuring that advisors in the office are meeting students’ developmental and technical needs. Additionally, he is in charge of guaranteeing that the Career Center’s “digital world” is expanding to meet students’ needs and beyond.
Ellie Parker: To begin with, what is the Career Center?
Joshua Meredith: The Career Center is a place where students can come and get career advice and guidance. We also hold events and we have a fully integrated online system known as YU Career Link (YUCL). We help students prepare for internships and careers as well as [help] students ideate what they want to do with their postgraduate life. We are there to make sure our students are trained and ready for what is going to happen when they are not at YU. Additionally, even after they graduate, we are there for them as alumni. So, we are with them forever!
EP: How has the Career Center changed over the years?
JM: Our executive director, Susan Bauer, has completely remodeled what we do here at the Career Center. We are more active on the university campus and are standardizing our offerings and programs to ensure every single student, be it within YC, Stern, Syms, or one of our many graduate programs, has consistent programming to enhance the quality of his or her education. We are also here to make sure that we can really be a place for students to learn more about themselves and what they want to do when they leave here. In addition to that, we have made some digital enhancements. We are launching new major and industry guides that will [arrive] in early February. We are launching something called YU-MVP, which is a new mentoring platform, and we should launch a new website before the end of the year.
EP: In your opinion, is the first step in a student’s career or internship search to come to the Career Center?
JM: In my opinion, if you are a new student or a student who has not used our resources yet, you should come in for a 10-minute meeting. We are open on both campuses from 12:30-2:30 [p.m.]…Specifically here at the Beren Campus we are located at 215 Lexington on the 5th floor. Come in and have a conversation with one of our advisors. There is super helpful information that we can provide in just 10 minutes — and everyone has 10 minutes, right? So, if you could find that time to at least say hello and get to know us, we can give you that little thing to spice up your resume or a tip on an internship. It really is a good starting point. Those little meetings can lead to more appointments, more advising, and more opportunities.
EP: What if a student has no sense of career direction or motivation? Can you help with that?
JM: That is one of the hallmarks of our career center. You can come in and have a conversation with us and we can really help you formulate what you like and what you are good at, and that can really lead to success. This is a great opportunity to get out there and learn more and use your time wisely. It is not too late for a summer internship or a summer job — we can help you get there no matter where you are on your journey.
EP: Do you take walk-ins?
JM: You can always schedule an appointment in YUCL (if you have not set yours up yet, come in and we can help). You can schedule a 30-minute appointment over lunch, or you can schedule a 10-minute meeting with any of us. Walk-ins are Monday-Thursday from 12:30-2:30 [p.m.].
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February Calendar of Career Center Events:
2/6 Deloitte Information Session, Beren Campus, 215 Lex, Yagoda Commons 7 p.m.
2/10, Opportunities with the United States Census Bureau, Wilf Campus, Furst Hall 520A, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
2/10 Liberal Arts Panel: The Road Less Taken: 4 SCW Alumnae and Their Unexpected Career Paths, Beren Campus, 215 Lex, Yagoda Commons 7 p.m.
2/11 Technology Meet & Greet, Beren Campus, 215 Lex, 7 p.m.
2/11 Medical And Dental School Fair, Beren Campus, Koch, 2:30-5:00 p.m.
2/12 Employer in Residence, Careers in Publishing, Beren Campus, 215 Lex, Conference Room 521, 2:30 p.m.
2/17, Employer in Residence, Careers in Consulting, Wilf Campus, Furst Hall 520A, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
2/24 Where Did I Go With My Liberal Arts Degree? Panel & Networking, Wilf Campus, Sky Café 8:30-9:30 p.m.
2/25 An Evening with Morgan Stanley, Wilf Campus, Belfer 921
2/25 Majors Madness, Wilf Campus, Location to Be Announced 5:45-7:15 p.m.
2/26 Careers in Data Analytics, Wilf Campus, Sky Café 8:30-9:30 p.m.
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Photo: YU Career Center Team