FGCU’s Career Development Services offer year-round career coaching programs at their office, near McTarnaghan Hall to help students prepare for internships and post-graduate jobs. Its mission is to provide exceptional centralized career services by leveraging networks of campus and industry resources, and to aid each FGCU student with their career readiness through preparation and exploration.
The office is staffed by individuals who help students build strong resumes, discover their professional paths, explore career options and gain clarity about their long-term goals. Counselors Pam Zuckerman and Michael Bennie work closely with students through each stage of their career path.
“Nothing makes me happier than when a student leaves my office with hope, so that hope is my reward,” Bennie said.
Career Development Services assists students in understanding how their majors will transform into long-term opportunities and benefit their futures.
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“We come in a very important time in the lives of students, because you might choose the major that you want, but Career Services helps you understand how this particular major will benefit you in the short term, the medium term and the long run, and we do a lot of research about what happens in the job market,” Bennie said.
Director Rose Fuller stresses the staff’s dedication to assisting students in discovering their goals.
“I’m passionate about helping students figure out their ‘why’ and articulating that to the world,” Fuller said on its website. “I love to advise all students in all majors and am especially knowledgeable with counseling programs and with career changers.”
Students have a limited amount of time in college before they must decide and prepare a path for themselves. Career Development Services is there as a proactive resource for students and demonstrates the importance of planning early.
“We can work with them and talk about their vision, what goals they have, perhaps set, what they’re thinking of pursuing,” Zuckerman said. “The earlier we work with students, and the more proactive students become, the more successful they are obtaining internships and job offers.”
For several students, the office provides motivation and clarity.
“Visiting made me feel confident that I could actually pursue my doctorate and what I wanted to do in life,” sophomore Lorissa Valdes said.
“Career Development Services are very helpful, and they actually do have a lot of information and resources to help,” sophomore Abbigale Llewellyn said.
Career Development Services places a strong emphasis on preparing students for the real world. The staff assists students in sharpening their professional communication skills and helps them link with future employers. They also advise students on which internships to pursue and guide them to opportunities that align with their interests.
Whether a student is unsure of what major to pursue or is already planning for higher education, the office provides resources to ensure their success.
“Student development is something that I really think about a lot,” Bennie said. “Anytime I meet a student, I know that I am helping an individual make destiny-informed decisions. That is what keeps me going.”
FGCU’s Career Development Services is located in the Career and Exploratory Advising Services building in the student plaza, near McTarnaghan and Howard Halls. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional information may be found on their website, along with additional resources for those seeking guidance and contact information.