Career Center News
September in the Career Center
October 01, 2024
By Katie Chitwood, Career Center Writing and Communications Intern
We started off the school year with a staggering 46 events across campus, including 15 different Employer Showcases that provided our students with some amazing networking practice and potential employment opportunities. Speaking of employers, the Career Center interacted with 113 different companies just this month! We’re excited to see what new opportunities this October brings for our GVSU students and staff.
Engage
We had a blast at this fall’s Accounting Career Fair, which was held on Friday, September 13th. With the most registrants of all our September events, 154 students attended to connect with local, regional, national, and international accounting firms and companies. Even with a little mishap with a false fire alarm and evacuation, the attendants showed up with smiles on their faces and resumes to hand out, and the employers were more than eager to engage with them. It was a perfect networking opportunity for students.
Connect
Our second annual Employer Golf Outing, sponsored by Mill Steel Company, was a highlight for us. For those who aren’t familiar with this newer event, every year the Career Center hosts a day out on the green for employer partners to raise funds for the GVSU Career Center Internship Award Endowed Scholarship. This award is then given to students who are completing unpaid internships throughout the school year, so it’s definitely a cause worth playing for.
Though this year’s event did not see the sunny skies we wished for, the rain didn’t keep us away! Despite not being able to go out on the green, we were delighted and incredibly grateful that every single one of our wonderful employers still showed up – what an amazing testament to the support our community gives our students! The smiles on everyone’s faces said it all; it was a day full of fun, building connections, and most importantly, raising money for a deserving cause.
Discover
The Career Center recently conducted a survey where 63% of employers indicated that they would not permit the submission of AI-produced materials for a job application. However, we know many students use ChatGPT to draft cover letters, and it can be a helpful tool. So, how do we prevent rejected applications? One employer wrote, “If the candidate uses AI as part of the creation process, but they carefully revise and edit it, that’s totally fine. If they use AI to generate paragraphs of text with obvious errors and then leave them in, produce stilted or overly generic language, or produce plausible, but not personally accurate statements, then I’m not interested. Basically, they can use AI as an assistant, but if they’re submitting its work to me without revision, then I’m not interested.”
While ChatGPT tailors content based on job descriptions and personal experiences, it’s crucial to emphasize to students the importance of thorough editing when using this tool. Please encourage them to personalize their letters by infusing their unique voice, specific anecdotes, and genuine enthusiasm for the position. This will ensure their application stands out!
Stay tuned in with the Career Center by:
- Checking out our latest podcast episode: S7E4: What Do Employers Really Look For?
- Following our Instagram and TikTok accounts: @gvsucareers
- Looking out for more exciting events in the fall!