Center for Career and Academic Planning Sets Students Up for Success

The Career Coaches of Fisher podcast is the Center for Career and Academic Planning's latest resource for students, thanks to co-hosts Jamie Rickard and Tracy Sullivan.

In their debut episode, “Demystifying Networking for College Students,” Rickard and Sullivan share details about their work as career coaches and stress the importance of networking and job search resources. Podcast episodes are available on Spotify.

While the coaching pair are new to the podcast profession, Rickard and Sullivan are hoping to start off by providing two podcasts each month, transitioning into weekly podcasts. They chose the podcast format because it offers students the opportunity to absorb information while they are multitasking. “We figured, why not? Information via osmosis,” said Rickard.

Each podcast will cover different topics that are career-related and will also include interviews with guests. Students can experience handy “all things career” tips at their convenience in the form of overall career management and exposure to career paths and industries. “We understand how valuable students’ time is trying to balance the demands of college and if they give us 20-30 minutes of their time, they may get inspiration and motivation to take that next important step in their career pathway,” Sullivan said.

In addition to the new podcast, Career Services offers assistance in many other ways, including Career Accelerator Awards to assist students in their professional journeys by providing funds for out-of-pocket costs associated with experiential learning.

With awards ranging from $200 to $1,000, students can apply for funds dedicated to career preparation, such as internships, job shadowing, employer site visits, conference attendance, graduate school exams and application fees, or the purchase of professional clothing. These funds may also be used for summer credit-bearing internships or research courses.

Through generous support from alumni donors, campus recruitment events, and more, the Center for Career and Academic Planning has approved awards to nearly 30 students to date.

To apply, students must complete an application for committee review. Upon approval, grants are dispersed via direct deposit to the awardee. Recipients are expected to participate in the Annual Student Research and Creative Works Symposium when invited to do so. Applications are open to undergraduates only and applications that include tuition or course related fees are not accepted.

To learn more, contact Julia Overton-Healy, director of career services, at joverton-healy@sjf.edu or complete the online grant application form.

This article was written by Grace Valenti ’24, an English major at St. John Fisher University. Completing a Certificate in Public and Professional Writing, Valenti also serves as the PR Writing intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications.