Taking advantage of NIC services: Career Services

There are several services around campus that are generally unknown to students.  This series will cover these services and highlight the people behind the scenes. 

Career Services

According to the Community College Completion Study (CCCS), students who set career goals within their first year of college are 50% more likely to graduate.  

NIC students and prospective students – individuals who are thinking about attending college – have access to career assessments and career counseling for free.

Gail Laferriere, who has been a career counselor for over 30 years, highlighted three steps towards picking a career goal:

1. Get to know yourself.  Counselors help students discover how they work and where their strengths lie.
2. Explore your options and find out more information.  Career Services has access to many resources and databases that would normally cost if a student were to purchase them individually. 
3. Meeting with people who are doing what you think you want to do.  Counselors can set up a time for students to meet with professionals in the field of their major.  Students can ask them as many questions as they like about their particular field of work. 

Gail Laferriere assists student Isabella Morris. Photo credit: Jamie Berube

Laferriere is very optimistic that any student can find a career goal they enjoy, although it may take more than one meeting to do so. 

“We really help with the whole journey because career development is a process. It’s not a one and done,” Laferriere said. “I have never ever worked with someone who works hard on this who doesn’t find something they love.  Ever.”  

A free assessment is scheduled for October 22-23, as well as Career Development Day which is on November 13.