Our Mission
The Office of Career Success’ mission is to enable career success for all Isenberg undergraduate and master level students. Made up of sibling units – the Chase Career Center and the Business Communication Program – we offer outstanding coaching, programming, and academic courses that develop our students as thoughtful and responsible citizens, connects them to industry and employers of choice, and positions them as future business leaders.
Our Philosophy
We equip our students with the skills, experiences, and networks necessary to achieve their professional goals, adapt to evolving industry demands, and make meaningful contributions to their chosen fields.
We believe that career development is not a one-time event, but a dynamic, lifelong process. We emphasize a four-phase, life design approach – Discover, Plan, Act, and Refine – guiding students to realize their strengths and interests, create strategic career plans, gain practical experience, and adapt their goals to achieve lasting professional success and fulfilment. Cycling through these phases multiple times enables students to continuously reflect, deepen their insight, and make purposeful decisions to advance career goals.
Students will explore their interests and strengths, clarify their values, and learn about industry and roles.
Undergraduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- What interests me in my coursework and why?
- What strengths do I already have that I want to build upon?
- What values and type of work environment matter the most to me as I consider my early career steps?
Graduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- What unique experience or expertise do I want to leverage in my next role?
- How will my degree fill any gaps in my skillset?
- What are the long-term personal and professional aspirations that this program will support in this time of transition?
Students will set goals, build skills, strategize for internships, jobs, or graduate school, and identify resources and opportunities.
Undergraduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- What activities or internship roles can help build experience for my target role?
- What tools, courses, or connections can help move me closer to my career goals and to stay motivated?
- What short-term goals can I set for this semester or year?
Graduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- How can I pair this advanced degree with other new skills or certifications to differentiate me from other candidates?
- Whose experience can I learn from within the alumni or my professional network?
- What milestones must I achieve this semester or year to reach my career goals?
Students will practice professional communication through networking, applying to and interviewing for internships or jobs, and gaining practical experience through project work or industry relevant internships or jobs.
Undergraduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- What have I learned from my first interviews or career conversations?
- What connections can I nurture to better understand the industry and what actions can I take to build my candidacy?
- How am I showing initiative and follow through in pursuing opportunities?
Graduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- How am I aligning my coursework and projects with targeted role requirements?
- What are my networking conversations teaching me about fit and industry dynamics?
- What feedback can I incorporate into future pitches, conversations with recruiters or alumni, and job interviews?
Students will reflect on progress, seek and apply feedback, adjust strategies and plans, and develop new career insights.
Undergraduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- What didn’t go as planned, and what can I learn from it?
- How have my interests and priorities evolved over this semester or year?
- What feedback have I received from mentors or peers that I can apply?
Graduate students may ask themselves reflection questions such as:
- How have recent experiences reshaped my long-term aspirations?
- What shifts or pivots might be necessary based on new insights?
- What recurring themes or values have emerged throughout this process, and what is the next step to take to evolve as a business professional?
This model supports students across diverse backgrounds and life experiences, empowering them to design their own career journey, embrace growth and change as essential to the process, and reflect within each phase to make meaning of their experience. Career development is not linear. You may enter the model at any phase, and you will move around the phases as you develop interests and experiences. The Office of Career Success is your partner in designing your career and seeks to offer support for you to feel confident through this ongoing and evolving process.
