A flyer adverstising the new Peer Career Advisor job positions.
CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT / COURTESY
Leyla J Mercado, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Manhattan University’s Center for Career Development (CCD) has announced its search for new Peer Career Advisors as it begins the recruitment process for the 2025-2026 academic year. Dedicated to supporting students’ futures, the center offers career guidance and preparation through its career counselors and peer career advisors (PCA).
PCAs are distinguished students who are skilled in assisting their peers in interview preparation, resume, cover letter and personal statement reviews alongside CCD programs, services and online resources. They provide further support in presentations for classes, residence halls and student organizations as well.
Julie Anna Alvarez-Rivera, the director at the Center for Career Development, spoke with The Quadrangle about the search for PCA applicants.
“We have wonderful career advisors on board now, but they’re seniors, so they’re going to be graduating,” Alvarez-Rivera said. “So we definitely want to develop another wonderful, talented, crop of students who can help fellow students. That really is the core of what our peer career advisors are. It’s peer to peer assistance with career related matters.”
Students who have an interest in applying must be eligible for either work study or campus employment, with a completed FAFSA application and the availability of working at least six hours per week. PCA candidates are to be trained by a two day training program that supports them in being ready to advise fellow students on preparing their resume, cover letters and job applications.
Alvarez-Rivera further explained what exactly the center is in search of in regards to new PCA applicants, and what the versatility the job consists of.
“This is open to current freshman, sophomores or juniors from any of the schools,” Alvarez-Rivera told The Quadrangle. “We asked for a minimum GPA of 3.0 and basically to be committed for the entire academic year, so 2025 through 2026 … We obviously recruit students from any of the schools, and it’d be great if we had students from each of the schools. The reality is once they’re hired, they’re expected to sort of cross-train so that they’re able to help any student from any other school. There’s a lot of ability to be able to learn new information and to adapt.”
She went on to share the Center for Career Development’s mission when it comes to current and future generations of students at MU.
“Our mission is really to be the hub of support for students to be able to support their career potential, and actually learn the skills and have the tools and the confidence they need to be able to go on that career path journey and ultimately be able to secure internships along the way,” Alvarez-Rivera said. “Also, all the post-graduate employment opportunities that will give them satisfaction in terms of their career goals”
Students who work as PCAs have translated this mission into meaningful experiences and lessons about the professional world. Maddie Fitzgerald, a senior biology major and PCA discussed what the most rewarding aspects of her job have been on her academic journey.
“When people would come back saying they got a job, I think that was really awesome because of the edits that we’ve made to their resume or their cover letter, or [the] different positions they applied to,” Fitzgerald said. “Whenever people come back with good news, or would say their friend recommended the job, add to why I’m coming.”
Fitzgerald also shared how her position as a PCA has helped her develop professionally, and allowed her to prepare for the post-graduate world.
“I can now write a really good resume,” Fitzgerald said. “So my own resume is impeccable, and also my cover letter writing skills. I’m able to apply to positions all the time and it’s always really good feedback from the positions. But also just being able to talk to people from all different ages and backgrounds and kind of develop their story, their narrative, it’s really fun to learn about everyone.”
Fitzgerald went on to share with The Quadrangle what she feels makes a great PCA.
“I think just being able to listen and understand people and understand that you’re meeting them where they’re at,” Fitzgerald said. “So if someone comes in and they’re super anxious about a job position, you have to be there and not be super overbearing, or make them afraid of whatever it is, work with what they’ve got. If they don’t have a ton of positions, how can we spin that into something that looks really awesome, really professional.”
As the Center for Career Development continues its search for new PCAs, students interested in on-campus employment recognize the value of the position.
Krysha Guzman, a sophomore majoring in political science elaborated on how she feels about PCA applications as a student with an interest in working on campus.
“I personally feel like opening applications for PCAs is a really good idea since students will be able to have the opportunity to help their peers,” Guzman said. “A lot of students would be more inclined to want to be a PCA when they see their peers are the ones that will be helping them. It’ll help students feel more confident in their career preparation because they are able to practice for their future careers with people they may already be close and comfortable with.”
Guzman went on to share, “I see PCAs playing an active role in helping influence other Jaspers on campus to be more inclined to becoming interested in getting a kick-start in their careers, since their fellow students will be taking part in it.”
The Center for Career Development is taking applications for PCA positions until March 31, with the application being accessible through their QR code. With any questions, they can be responded to via email at careerdevelopment@manhattan.edu.