Scott Williams

Columns: How many students come to the Career Center throughout the year?
Williams: We implemented and helped develop a student tracking system about three years ago. This technology allows us to track total student contacts—including repeat visitors—and unique student contacts. In any given year, we have more than 10,000 unique student and alumni contacts and more than 40,000 total student contacts. Those numbers not only include career counseling appointments, but also represent student participation in career programs throughout the year.

We try to get students coming early in the fall, and thinking about their job prospects when they graduate in May. . . Some companies extend offers as early as December or January.

Columns: How’s the job market right now?
Williams: It’s markedly better than it was two or three years ago. It’s getting incrementally better.

We have 11 or 12 career fairs every year. When you look at our two largest career fairs—one in the fall, one in spring—and add up employer participation, we had
80 more employers (compared to last year). In fact, our fall fair was the largest we’ve ever had. I think that bodes well for our students.

Columns: What are some of the Career Center’s highlights since you’ve been director?
Williams: The thing I’m most proud of is that we keep trying new things, implementing new programs and looking to improve on existing ones. . . . Every year we try to do something a little bit different or a little bit better. For example, next year we’re looking at developing a conference to help students who are undecided.

Sometimes, it’s easy to become complacent in higher education. To our staff’s credit, they’re always trying to push the envelope. . .The staff here is definitely our greatest asset.

Columns: How does the Career Center work with other departments on campus?
Williams: We can interact with so many people, not only on the university campus, but externally. . . We’re in an academic environment but with a window to the outside world.

I always tell people we’re the ‘O Negative’ of the university. We can interface anywhere fairly easily.

I think if you look broadly at a major goal for nearly any university, you’ll find something about preparing students to become productive members of society and the workforce. If you look closely at the major divisional structures at the University of Georgia, you’ll find student affairs, academic affairs and external affairs, all of which are divisions that we both support and with whom we can easily collaborate.

For example, student affairs has a goal of developing and supporting students, which we do on a daily basis through career programs and individual student career counseling appointments. Academic affairs is about education and instruction, which we support through direct instruction of career classes, guest lecturing in some classes and developing relationships with faculty so they can appropriately refer students seeking career assistance. Finally, the Career Center is housed in external affairs, which we support through our strong external relationships with employers and by providing career services to our alumni.

I am particularly excited about a new partnership we’ve developed with academic advising where we share a staff member in arts and sciences who is part “academic adviser” and part “career counselor.”  There are some similar aspects to these fields and the more we can collaborate and partner with each other, the better the referrals and services we can provide to students. However, I’m excited about and value all of our many partnerships throughout campus.

Columns: The UGA Alumni Career Fair is June 6 at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta. Are there any other major events coming up?
Williams: One other rapidly approaching event that we’re excited about is our Recruiter’s Retreat, which will be held May 2 at the Georgia Club and is sponsored by Enterprise, a Career Center Employer Partner. This event is designed specifically for our employer recruiters to help them polish their recruiting strategies and develop strong relationships with UGA faculty and staff.

For example, we’ll have a vice president from Monster.com as our keynote speaker to discuss recruiting trends and their newly developed employment index. Ultimately, I believe that effective college recruiting is all about relationships, and what better way for employers to develop closer relationships with key UGA faculty and staff than to learn with them, to network with them and share dinner and a reception with them.

Columns: What is some advice you’d give to job-seekers?
Williams: One of the things I usually tell students is finding a job is like anything else in your life. The more time you put into it, the more likely you’ll be successful. Another thing I use is the analogy of getting in shape at the gym. You don’t go to a gym and immediately get physically fit. . . you have to exercise.

Likewise, you don’t just come to the Career Center, snap your fingers and get a job. You have to exercise at the Career Center as well. You have to meet your career consultant, work on your résumé, attend our career fairs and come to the Career Center. Come early, come often.