By, Kelly Cwik & Mack Olmsted, Asst. A&E Editor & Staff Writer

As more activities shift to being in person at Manhattan College, the Center for Career Development is continuing with a hybrid approach and bringing forth a full semester of programming.

Located on the third floor of Thomas Hall, the Center for Career Development supports students in all parts of the career development process, from helping students determine what they aspire to be to applying to jobs postgraduate and all the steps in between.

Rachel Cirelli, director of the Center for Career Development, discussed how the goals of the center and Manhattan College align.

“I think we have to remember our mission of the college and I think we really want students to live meaningful purpose driven lives,” Cirelli said. “I think when we think about our Lasallian mission, It’s really about vocation, right, it’s where the world’s biggest needs and your biggest strengths and talents meet.”

Due to COVID, the last year and a half the Center for Career Development adapted and changed so they can still continue guiding students to the career of their choice. The center added a brand new summer workshop system, continued employer panels, and the mentor programs and added micro-internships. As of today, the Center for Career Development requires students to make an appointment to meet.

This semester, the Center for Career Development is hosting virtual career chats via Google Meet throughout the semester focusing on topics such as interview strategies, LinkedIn, job and interview searches and networking and marketing yourself.

On Sept. 21, the Center for Career Development is having their 2021 Virtual Career Fair in which 60 employers are registered. Career fair details, employers attending and registration information can be found on Handshake. The Center for Career Development is also having their 2021-2022 Mentor Program which will be starting soon.

The Mentor Program is a system where they match up students based on their interests and career goals with a Manhattan College alumni who is in the field you are interested in. The mentor program could be anything from shadowing to see their day-to-day process to just having a conversation over lunch. The only requirement is that you need to be at least a sophomore to join the program.

“I want us to think about what’s meaningful to me,” Cirelli said. “What do I want to get out of my job? I want students to really think about these things and make the best use of their heart, their skills, their interests, their passions, that’s how I see it.”

Sharon D’Amelia, associate director of the Center for Career Development, recommends all students to check out this program. D’Amelia emphasized the importance of going to the Center for Career Development sooner rather than later, especially for students undecided on their career path.

“There’s a lot happening to prepare students early and the earlier you come, the better for someone that’s undecided,” D’Amelia said. “We also offer career assessments. Career assessments is a tool that will help you have a better understanding of who you are, and it will help you match you up to different careers, and that may help the student, when they’re trying to figure out what major they want to go into, or what career path to choose.”

The center also has many peer career advisors that students can drop in and ask their questions to. Appointments are not necessary, however appointments can be made on the Manhattan College website with Calendly.

PCAs assist students with questions such as how to use Handshake to apply for jobs and internships, how to create a LinkedIn profile and to register for the career fair. In addition, PCAs can review resumes, cover letters and help students navigate the resources at the Center for Career Development.

Caitlin Ficarra, a junior marketing major and peer career advisor, explained the benefits of having PCAs on campus.

“Being able to sit down with a fellow classmate can be super helpful for students that are seeking career related advice because they can relate to one another to some capacity,” Ficarra wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “Each PCA is also super friendly and active around campus, so having a friendly face greet you when you come in for a meeting can help students feel more comfortable!”

To contact a PCA go to CAREER COUNSELING/PEER CAREER ADVISOR (PCA) on the Manhattan College website or stop by their office in Thomas Hall.

“We want to make sure the students come in and talk to us like the way they look for careers, every school kind of looks at careers, a little bit differently but we see them all. And we’re prepared to help them all.” Cirelli said.

Cirelli wants students to know that “there’s so much opportunity in the job market… keep trying and just keep going because students are getting great jobs, there’s a lot of movement and exciting time in the economy.”

“We help students achieve their career goals. You know, we work with students individually or with students in groups to reach their career goals,” D’Amelia said.

To contact the Center for Career Development, email careerdevelopment@manhattan.edu.