Evolving Toward 2030

CES will improve messaging and accessibility by focusing on clear communication around self-discovery and first-year resources, emphasizing early engagement. This includes assessing CES messaging in admissions materials for consistency and accuracy. Frontline admissions staff training will be enhanced, particularly for first-year student resources. CES will explore becoming a tour stop on Admissions and NSO tours, refine NSO Leader training, and improve Parent & Family Orientation presentations. A "How Do I Even Get Started" event will follow NSO to introduce the Career Journey Model and career exploration strategies.

CES will introduce career development concepts in FIGS by familiarizing first-year students with discovery and exploration resources, using the Career Journey Model from week one. The effectiveness of the final project and presentation will be evaluated, with ongoing connections maintained through automated updates. To boost enrollment, CES will review the PI Ed spring model for greater capacity, explore new topics, and consider spring courses taught by successful fall PIs. Senior Peer Instructors will help with a Rutgers Giving Day campaign, and CES will collaborate with various schools to expand access. Marketing efforts will update strategies and increase branding.

CES will integrate self-discovery in first-year academic programs by adapting its FIGS career development presentation for other first-year courses and assigning staff liaisons to deliver self-discovery programming. Collaborations with course coordinators will support integrating assignments, and CES staff will emphasize career self-discovery. Students not enrolled in transition courses will be invited to the "How Do I Even Get Started" Workshop. CES will partner with advising offices in limited enrollment majors to create a referral process for career shifts and maintain a presence at major/minor exploration events. An online certification for campus partners will be created.

CES will expand career assessment tools by providing ongoing staff training on Traitify and other assessments like Design Thinking. Additional tools, such as the Strong Interest Inventory, will be explored for graduate students. Staff will be trained to deliver and interpret these assessments, and CES will integrate them into more graduate programs for professional development. CES will engage the Undecided and Exploratory Career Community Advisory Board to gather input, boost participation in exploration-based programming, and develop initiatives that help students understand their interests, strengths, values, and aspirations.

CES will strengthen collaborations with the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA) by identifying alumni needs, establishing mentorship pipelines, and creating a presence at RUAA events to promote career engagement. Career Exploration Nights will be expanded by increasing student participation, refining learning outcomes, updating marketing materials for inclusivity, and working with partners to communicate event value. The Intern for a Day program will be expanded with travel stipends for shadowing and partnerships with local businesses. CES will also offer career treks as funding allows, supported by feedback and collaboration with campus partners. Existing transfer student programs will be evaluated with Transfer Student Deans.

CES will leverage social media and digital platforms by coordinating employer “takeovers” to educate students about career paths, integrating social media assignments in high-impact programs like the Rutgers Internship & Co-op Course and the 4WARD Career Pathways Program, and hosting webinars with industry professionals. Major Handouts and career resources will be revamped with updated visuals for brand cohesion and potential alumni video features. CES will explore partnerships with the Career Discovery Advantage Curriculum Mapping Initiative to incorporate mapping resources into the CES website, career courses, and student orientations. Online resources will also include revisions to guides, instructional videos, and a new FAQ section.

CES will enhance alumni and student engagement through the Student-Alumni Career Connect (SACC) by auditing existing data to understand usage and representation. Benchmarking with other PeopleGrove universities will establish effective alumni-student engagement ratios, and strategic communication with the Rutgers Alumni Association will boost signups. Peer-to-peer mentoring functionality will be explored, and additional resources like tip sheets and interview guides will be linked within SACC. Regular alumni communication through newsletters and spotlights will encourage continued platform involvement. SACC will support alumni participation in CES events, including Career Exploration Nights and 4WARD.

CES will develop a Faculty Career Fellows Program to integrate NACE Career Competencies into curricula, helping faculty connect course skills to careers. The program will involve a working group with the Institute for Teaching, Innovation, and Inclusive Pedagogy, benchmarking other programs, and providing synchronous and asynchronous resources. CES will create a webpage on NACE competencies with student videos, Canvas resources, and reflective workshops. Skill development will be included in CES training for student workers, with experiential education partners supporting competency articulation. A NACE Career Readiness badging program will track and promote competency levels.

CES will launch the Student Employee Enrichment (SEE) Program to embed professional development into the Federal Work-Study (FWS) experience. This program will start with a collaborative working group, focusing on enhancing FWS students' career competencies. SEE will include supervisor training, performance management, and skills labs on competencies like public speaking and design thinking. It will explore using systems like Forage for skill development, celebrate student employees during National Student Employment Week, and connect students with specialized roles through Handshake. CES will also relaunch the World-of-Work (WOW) Program for interns, providing training on NACE competencies and professional conduct.

CES will develop the Rutgers Internship & Co-op Program by partnering with the ISC team to vet internships, ensuring alignment with FLSA standards and RICC goals. Updated coaching materials and an internship manual will guide employers in creating valuable programs and promoting Rutgers course credit opportunities. The Internship Advisory Council will expand to include departments with credit-bearing internships, and the Handshake Experiences Module will be explored for tracking evaluations and student outcomes. CES will connect with schools lacking internship courses to make RICC available and strengthen ties with NACE competencies. The RSSI Program will streamline recruitment, offer orientations, and foster a cohort model.

CES will launch and expand the Industry Consultant Program to provide students with one-on-one career support from industry representatives on resumes, interviewing, networking, and job search strategies. The full launch will include 10-12 consultants across all Career Communities, who will be trained on CES practices and tools and featured in the CES directory. Effectiveness will be measured and adjusted based on feedback. The Peer Career Educator (PCE) Program will be expanded to attract diverse candidates, supporting specific career interest communities and providing advising on resumes, cover letters, and job searches, with ongoing staff consultation. CES will optimize advising by coordinating coverage during peak periods and reconfiguring Handshake for efficiency.

CES will reinforce Career Interest Communities by offering tailored resources to guide students in their career pursuits, stressing that majors don’t always define career paths, and providing key contacts for major student groups. Strong campus relationships with aligned partners will support positive perceptions of CES. A review will simplify career community names into six broader groups, streamlining outreach. Dedicated CES teams, led by Assistant Directors and supported by PCEs and Industry Consultants, will design targeted programs, monitor progress, and feature in reports to increase visibility. Assistant Directors will engage in ongoing professional development and industry insights. CES will host tailored recruiting events, reintroduce small-group career meetups, and audit offerings to meet community needs. Advisory boards will meet twice annually to shape mini-strategic plans.

CES will assess students' interest in further education by reviewing post-graduation survey and Handshake data to gauge demand for graduate programs. Partnerships with Graduate Student Admissions will enhance the Graduate/Professional School Fair, focusing on Rutgers programs while also promoting external virtual fairs. Collaborations with academic departments and CES units will guide students through the graduate admissions process. CES will develop a library of workshop materials, identify advising offices within each career community, and maintain ongoing outreach to graduate departments. Resources will be accessible on the CES website, with departments encouraged to use Handshake for events and appointments.

CES will audit and enhance resources to support students in securing full-time employment, internships, and gap-year opportunities by reviewing current offerings and assessing post-graduation survey and Handshake data. Campus partners and advisory boards will identify needs for resources on alternative paths like Teach for America or Peace Corps. CES will create virtual content on modern job search techniques and consult recruiters on essential job search tools. Web content will include videos, career tool links, and employer tips, with comprehensive job search modules in Canvas. Continuous monitoring will ensure content remains relevant, with events like resume reviews, the JCPenney Suit-up Event, and the Mastering the Art of Networking Conference.

CES will create workshops to help students transition from college to professional life, covering topics like budgeting, life skills, overcoming imposter syndrome, and developing a professional identity. Employers, alumni, and campus partners like the Financial Literacy Team will collaborate with CES staff to present these workshops, with additional virtual career guide content. All advising staff will be trained in Career Life Design principles, starting with certification for team leads as content experts. Cost-effective tools will introduce all staff to these principles, and workshop standards will integrate Career Life Design into student programs.

CES aims to diversify and enhance its employer base by assigning Assistant Directors to specific career interest and student communities to drive employer engagement, partnering with organizations like the NJ Small Business Development Centers and NJ Chamber of Commerce to expand opportunities, and creating a filterable database on the CES website to connect employers with relevant campus initiatives. Workshops will educate employers on effective engagement and internship best practices. The Knights of the Round Table (KoRT) Partners Program will receive dedicated support from Assistant Directors, streamlined tracking, and integrated university giving through partnerships. CES will also cultivate a group of “Portfolio Employers” to provide tailored recruiting for each career interest community, collaborate on workshops, and assist with job promotions on Rutgers Handshake.

To further bolster engagement, CES will prospect new employers through Rutgers alumni connections and host the annual RecruitED Employer Summit, featuring campus partner engagement. An Employer Relationship Management Tool will be implemented to track employer interactions, and an online form will streamline inquiries. For recruiting programs, CES will offer criteria and templates to assist employers, integrate Handshake feeds with campus partners, and provide hybrid interview options. Large-scale career fairs will be segmented by interest communities, with enhanced logistics and employer experiences, including headshots and branded nametags, while students will receive fair takeaways to guide next steps.

To foster direct employer-student connections, CES will organize Industry Connect events, recruit-focused events for each student community, on-site recruitment visits, and an Annual Diversity Case Competition with the Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA). A Student Organization Reception & Employer Networking Dinner (SOREND) will feature a reverse career fair, networking dinner, and student organization awards to deepen employer connections with student groups.

CES will enhance staff professional development by training team members to update web content, highlight key information in newsletters, and send targeted Handshake emails, empowering them to manage communication needs independently. Regular assessments will ensure continuous improvement. To boost knowledge and awareness, CES will integrate performance management activities focused on online tools, designate tool liaisons, and offer training on MS Teams, Zoom, and Smartsheet. A centralized hub for documentation and best practices will be established. Staff will also receive training on supporting underrepresented students and incorporating active learning. CES will develop outreach processes for campus liaisons, conduct Handshake roadshows, and create strategies for the Student-Alumni Career Connect platform, offering sample assignment templates, tip sheets, and support for integrating resources into syllabi.

CES will enhance engagement strategies with campus partners by expanding student exposure to the Career Journey Model through collaborations, offering career advising office hours at partner locations, and involving partners in career and internship fair preparation. Career student community webpages will be tailored with input from advisory boards, and CES will identify employers that align with specific career communities, creating a centralized partner directory with annual updates. Outreach will prioritize career interest communities when partners align with both student and career communities. A toolkit will streamline partner outreach efforts.

To bolster engagement, CES will establish a Faculty Engagement System, engage campus partners on the career community model, and host an annual meet-and-greet with academic advisors. Resources on recruiting trends will be shared with campus partners to inform their work with students.

Recognition efforts include an Employer Recognition Event, a Student Employee Awards Lunch, a Faculty Industry Symposium, and an ongoing Campus Partner Breakfast. A new Career Champions Recognition Program will honor faculty and staff for their contributions to student career development, with nominees celebrated on the CES website and at the Campus Partner Breakfast.

CES will enhance career resources by exploring group advising formats for transfer students and organizing a working group to update online content, benchmarking with Big Ten and AAU schools. Staff will be trained on relevant applications to increase tool utilization. Data-driven improvements will be implemented through dynamic survey management, and post-graduation survey data will inform staff and partners. Inclusivity will be prioritized by evaluating resources for student identities and ensuring all advisors complete NACE’s Inclusive Excellence Certificate. A Career Closet will provide professional attire, managed by Peer Career Educators (PCEs).

Support for graduate students will include hiring a Senior Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Pathways, strengthening partnerships with the School of Graduate Students, and creating programs around NACE Competencies. For first-generation students, the 4WARD program will be expanded with an end-of-year celebration, an online campaign, and mentor support. A Rutgers Giving Day campaign will fund 4WARD’s administrative costs. CES will also balance resources for diverse student communities, focusing on tailored programming and group advising. Career Portrait Lounges will offer free professional headshots.

CES will assess and optimize online career tools by reviewing effectiveness, gathering feedback, benchmarking peer institutions, and developing a plan to update or replace underperforming tools in alignment with the Career Journey Model. Staff training will ensure smooth integration of new tools, and a continuous improvement process will be established. The lesson plan and presentation library will be expanded with a refreshed PowerPoint template, active learning activities, and inclusive content. A system for requesting presentations with flexible scheduling will be developed.

To enhance advising services, CES will review current offerings, implement a checklist for standardizing appointments, and train advisors to use tools like Traitify and Big Interview. Access to individualized feedback reports will aid continuous improvement, and advising data will refine services. CES will also leverage survey results and evaluations, sharing them annually with staff and campus partners and ensuring alignment with career competencies through collaboration with Career Discovery and Career Readiness teams.

CES will develop Career Journey Guides for various student groups, including a four-year guide for undergraduates and accelerated versions for transfer and graduate students. These guides will be accessible online, linked to Handshake, and promoted through a marketing campaign with advisors and faculty. Updates will be made based on feedback and industry trends. For post-graduation surveys, CES will enhance data collection through committee meetings, improved marketing, and semesterly employment status checks to offer tailored support. Celebratory efforts will include “RU Hired” stories on social media and public dashboards showcasing graduate outcomes.

To increase CES brand awareness, marketing will focus on storytelling that highlights student success, staff expertise, and engagement. Physical and virtual marketing efforts, including campus tabling and street team activities, will maximize reach. The #RUTGERSWORKS program will expand, offering incentives for participation. LinkedIn groups will be created for high-impact programs, and CES affiliates will be encouraged to add their roles to LinkedIn and Handshake.

CES will implement a Career Engagement Score to tailor outreach, with personalized start-of-year emails from advisors to introduce relevant resources. Automated follow-ups after events will ensure ongoing guidance and engagement based on the Career Journey Model.