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“This is an unprecedented time. It was almost impossible to prepare for something like this, especially in terms of career planning and advancement,” says the Director of the Office of Career Advancement (OCA), Robert Bullard, referencing the transition to a virtual semester due to the Covid-19 outbreak. 

The OCA has adapted quickly to develop virtual solutions to continue to support students in the best ways possible. In the OCA’s efforts to encourage virtual student and alumni engagement, “we moved all presentations online, created more content for Social Media, and performed direct outreach to employers to best understand the conditions of the labor market for our students and alumni,” Bob said. The OCA has been putting out consistent content to facilitate the connection between the office and students. 

Bob has published an informative on his LinkedIn and sent it out as an email to all É«ÀÇÉçÇø students. The story outlines all of the various OCA resources currently available to students. They can schedule appointments for one-on-one virtual meetings with a member of the OCA to discuss their future career goals and utilize É«ÀÇÉçÇø's job search tools such as ProfsJobs and CareerShift. Students can also check out the OCA’s page , where there are short videos highlighting information about OCA resources and career advice that cover virtual interview and resume building tips. The OCA has also directed É«ÀÇÉçÇø students and alumni to resources that The State of New Jersey has provided for job seekers through a . With all of these resources available to É«ÀÇÉçÇø students and alumni, Bob understands that it may be overwhelming, but emphasizes that the OCA “wanted to create a way that they [Students and Alumni] could engage at any point.”

The programs at OCA have been met with such positive feedback that they've extended their virtual offerings throughout the summer! From "On the Spot" resume critiques, to Virtual Interviewing, to workshops that highlight the job market in our new environment, the OCA has been working hard to connect our Profs with the learning opportunities they need to succeed. All of this summer's events can be found on .

When asked about what career advice he would give to students during these uncertain times, Bob says, “the number one piece of advice we can give is to authentically network during this period. This will pass, and the connections you make during this time will be there to springboard your future.” His words of encouragement and the assistance from the OCA is helping ensure that students are receiving a quality experience here at É«ÀÇÉçÇø and continue to feel the support as alumni.

For more information about resources provided by the OCA, please access this link that outlines job search tools, interview/resume advice, NJ job boards, as well as additional contact information regarding career assistance during this unprecedented time. We are all in this together. #É«ÀÇÉçÇøPROUD