Cybersecurity and digital forensics major Jessica Rosanova remembers feeling uncertain as a second-year student regarding her major.
“There are so many different career opportunities I could follow, but I wasn’t sure which one would fit me best based on my interests,” Rosanova said.
Now, as a student assistant at the Career Connection Center, she helps students take their first steps toward reaching their goals and figuring out their career paths. She checks students in and schedules appointments.
“I originally came here to figure out how I stand out,” Rosanova said. “To tailor my resume, learn some tips and figure out how I can stand out as an applicant for a job, an internship, a volunteer position — anything like that.”
Because of her experience working at the Career Connection Center, Rosanova understood how the advisers worked, which gave her a sense of confidence going into her appointments. Instead of worrying about being judged, she expected constructive feedback.
“I was quite confident they would help me,” she said. “They would give me real feedback and real corrections that I could make. I was really confident in their input.”
That expectation was met during a one-on-one appointment with Senior Career Advisor Matt Gibson, who helped her refine her resume and emphasize her strengths.
“The appointment I had was a lot more in-depth and gave me a reference for how I can make it better and stand out overall,” Rosanova said.
According to Gibson, many students who visit the Career Connection Center feel uncertain about their future and worry that they lack experience.
“A lot of students are concerned about internships — whether it’s trying to find one. Oftentimes, students feel like they might be behind, or they don’t have enough experience, or they haven’t done their resume,” Gibson said. “Students kind of come in in a vulnerable state, and that’s something we want to be open and inviting about to help with.”
Executive Director of Career Connection Center Matt Steiler added that the purpose of these sessions is to help students find the right path.
“The main goal is to make sure that students are utilizing their education to find a career,” Steiler said. “Guide them on the right path.”
Beyond resume building, the Career Connection Center offers a welcoming and supportive environment that helped Rosanova better understand the value of the resource.
Before her appointment, Rosanova said she hadn’t recognized how often students leave feeling more pride than when they arrived. After her appointment, that changed.
“Once I had that appointment with Matt, I could understand why people feel more prideful once they leave the office,” she said.
Not only did the session help her feel more confident, but it also altered her perception of job and internship searches.
“There’s always going to be people who are better than you,” Rosanova said. “But I’m the only person in the world who has experienced the things that I’ve experienced. I’ll always have that advantage.”
With the help of the Career Connection Center, Rosanova now feels less overwhelmed about her future. Without its support, she believes her college experience would be different.
“I think I would be totally lost,” Rosanova said.
As she continues working in the office, Rosanova hopes to reassure other students who feel lost while navigating their futures.
“We have so many things we need to worry about,” she said. “It can be very overwhelming and stressful, but it’s okay not to know.”
