Bethel Launches Adult-Focused Career Center
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA new office at Bethel College focuses on the needs of adult students. The center will hold a grand opening at the beginning of the fall semester and will look to connect adults to area businesses and organizations. May 29, 2014
News Release
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Bethel College announces the launch of a career services office designed specifically to meet the needs of adult students. Development of the office is one of several initiatives resulting from the $900,000 Lilly Grant received by Bethel in November 2013.
According to Steve Ganger, director of adult and graduate career services, the career needs of adult students are typically very different than the needs of traditional-aged college students.
“Our adult students usually have years of experience, have held multiple jobs and are trying to either move up within their company or change careers,” says Ganger. “Bethel is in an extremely unique position of having a dedicated career office that specifically addresses the complexities of the career needs of adult students.”
Career services staff will help students with resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, networking and other job search skills. They also want to help students understand the part social media can play in a job search. “Adult students may not be leveraging resources such as LinkedIn and Twitter to their full potential. One of our goals is to make sure they are taking advantage of the networking opportunities available online,” says Ganger.
Another important objective is developing partnerships with local employers, which will make them more aware of the pool of talent within Bethel's adult programs. These partnerships will help students create key connections with businesses and organizations.
The office will have a grand opening at the start of the fall 2014 semester, but has already helped more than 20 students with their job search. And they’ve seen impressive success – some students who had been stalled in their job search have obtained new positions with help received through the career services office.
“Our office is uniquely equipped to support these students – we know them, we understand them, we recognize they are coming from a very different place in life than Bethel’s traditional students,” says Ganger. “It's so rewarding to provide support for them and especially to give a boost to those who feel stuck in their job search.”
For more information or for an appointment with a career counselor, call 574.807.7550 or email AGScareers@BethelCollege.edu.
Bethel College is an accredited Christian college offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in more than 70 areas of study. The current enrollment of more than 1,800 includes students from 34 states and Puerto Rico, 10 countries and 16 percent from culturally diverse backgrounds. In addition to its beautifully wooded 75-acre main campus in Mishawaka, Ind., Bethel also offers specific academic programs at sites in Elkhart, Ind., Fort Wayne, Ind., Dowagiac, Mich., and St. Joseph, Mich. Connect with Bethel online at BethelCollege.edu, or via Facebook (Facebook.com/BethelCollege), Twitter (Twitter.com/BethelCollegeIN), YouTube (YouTube.com/BethelCollegeIndiana) and Instagram (Instagram.com/BethelCollege).
Source: Bethel College