Perimeter’s Career Services Aims to Ready Students for Their Career Path

CLARKSTON, Ga.— “They don’t know what they don’t know” is a challenge that Brenda Baugh works through on a regular basis while helping Perimeter College students embark on their career path. As Associate Director of University Career Services, Baugh manages operations across all five Perimeter campuses. She has been at the college since March 2019, and during this time has worked with thousands of students, scheduled over 3,000 appointments and drafted over 1,000 resumes.

Baugh and her team in the office of University Career Services – Kiley Eburne (Clarkston and Newton), Willie Mickell (Decatur), Amy Vandekerkhove (Alpharetta and Dunwoody) and Rashid Jalloh (Alpharetta and Dunwoody) – are on a mission to get Perimeter College students prepared for their career path after college. “Your career journey starts now, not later,” said Baugh. “Career Services,” she continued, “is about career readiness, preparing students for careers, guiding them on how to choose their major and helping them explore different career options.”

Even when students feel ready to begin their careers, there are often additional steps they can take, and Career Services is here to guide them through what they may not know yet. Some students may assume the department only helps with resumes, but its support goes far beyond that. Career Services assists with resumes, cover letters and elevator pitches, while also advising students on the skills and certifications needed to be competitive in the job market. They encourage students to take advantage of free professional headshots at the Iris Booth on the Clarkston and Dunwoody campuses, help them choose pathways aligned with their goals and connect them with internships for hands-on experience. The team also provides guidance on professional attire and offers clothing and accessories for interviews through clothing Career Closets at Clarkston and Dunwoody.

According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, sixty-seven percent of students who accessed their university’s career services were more likely to be employed full time after graduating. To assist with this, Perimeter’s Career Services office hosts days for specific pathways, including STEM, Business Administration and Health Sciences. They host events throughout the year, including Resume Writing, How to Research Before an Interview, How Clubs and Organizations Build Your Career Path, What Can I Do with My Major, Big Resume Day and Ask an Employer. Some events are virtual so students can join from anywhere, while others take place in person at all campuses.

Career Services has consistent engagement with students, and participation is trending up this year. As of mid-October, approximately four percent of freshman and six percent of sophomores had scheduled an appointment with Career Services. There have been 968 drop-in appointments, which means six percent of freshmen and nine percent of sophomores have dropped in. In terms of event attendance, sixty-one percent of freshmen and fifty-three percent of sophomore students at Perimeter have attended an event so far this year. That’s a record number of 8,097, and this number continues to grow daily as Baugh and her team share resources with Perimeter students.

Story by Christy Petterson
Photo by Carolyn Richardson