The Senior Advantage program will be a resource meant to calm the nerves of seniors by increasing their chances of finding a secure job by the time graduation rolls around. But this is not happening during spring semester — it is starting now.
The Senior Advantage is a new program created by Career Center Director Brad Dudley and President Andrew K. Benton that will assist seniors in planning out their careers and developing the skills and connections necessary to ensure their success in the workforce.
“It’s a new program which is why [students] don’t know a lot about it Dudley said. It started off as a senior survival course but we really weren’t interested in seeing seniors survive as much as thrive.”
The interest that Pepperdine is taking in its seniors’ success does not go unnoticed.
“I am so impressed at how much the administration at Pepperdine wants to help us succeed not only while we’re on campus but after we graduate said senior Katie Stjernholm. It is something I would love to take part in.”
Senior Marigrace Marshall agreed.
“The senior advantage program sounds like a great opportunity she said. I would definitely be interested in participating.”
“I have heard Dr. Benton talk about the program and his excitement is contagious remarked Taylor Kruse, another senior.
Marshall agrees that Benton is enthusiastic about helping. The fact that Dr. Benton is a co-director of this as well is such a testament to the culture of our university.”
The administration’s plan was put into action spring 2009 after a career-related meeting held by the senior class president with panelists such as Benton led to the development of the Senior Advantage program.
“We did a presentation for seniors and talked with them about the importance of getting serious about getting out there … and really taking responsibility for their careers Benton said. I feel like we did a good job.”
The national statistics showed they did. “Last year even in the tough economy Seaver graduates were employed at a 15 percent greater rate than the national average Dudley said.
Although these figures may be comforting to the class of 2010, Dudley warns that waving a Seaver College diploma in an employer’s face won’t automatically guarantee a good job.
Students have been haunted by the not-so-positive stories of recent graduates and their struggle to find employment.
It is true that we are living in a time when opportunities and jobs are limited Stjernholm said. There are students who graduated in 2009 with 4.0 GPAs countless activities and several internships; [they] are still searching for a job.”
Despite this the Senior Advantage program is meant to help seniors go the necessary extra mile to reach their dreams. “Programs like these however will allow us to tangibly put these into action and contribute to the world after graduation Dudley said.
According to Benton, the program will give leads and advice to the seniors and will create an environment where they will use alumni as resources. Career counselors will meet with each participating students three to four times during the course of the year to check on progress. This is intended to give seniors a significant advantage in the job market with the use of a specific program with three core requirements.
First, seniors will create a Personal Senior Plan with the help of campus Career Counselors. Next, they will join a Pro-Circle otherwise known as an interest or industry group. It’s a program for students who are interested in a particular field and alumni who work in that field Dudley said. These groups are online and their members will range from seniors at Seaver College to alumni working in a particular field of choice and other employers in that field.
Mid semester we roll out the industry group Dudley said, so interested seniors should be sure to get started quickly on their Personal Senior Plans so they can join these Pro-Circle groups.
Once this is done, students must participate in what is known as the Night2Network.” This event is put together by the Student Alumni Organization and offers students a chance to meet alumni in their industry of interest.
Many internships arise from this event and greatly increase the chances of getting a job as a result. In fact out of the students who had jobs by the time of graduation Dudley said 80 percent of them had done an internship during their time at Pepperdine.
It is the job of the program to keep increasing the percentage of employment and promote the success of Pepperdine’s graduates. “I’m not sure there’s a much more important service Benton said.
Pepperdine truly cares about its students not only while they are here but after college as well according to Marshall. I think that Pepperdine does a great job taking care of its students in every area of life on campus and this program is one more way to prove that.”
In a time where the economy is in shaky waters and the job market is not in its prime the task of finding a good job in the work force following graduation is vital to all seniors. Although Dudley acknowledges this task may be very stressful the Senior Advantage can help make it all come together a little bit easier. Seniors just have to make a trip to the Career Center. “It’s much less stressful to start the conversation than to hide from it according to Dudley.
I’m excited to see how it works out Kruse said. Stjernholm added, With proper advertising I think this program could have a widespread impact on the Class of 2010.”