How the GWU Career Center Helps Students Prepare for Success

For many students, graduation can feel far away when they first arrive on campus. Yet one of the best ways to prepare for life after college is to begin thinking about it early. Career preparation isn’t something that starts during senior year—it’s a process that grows alongside a student’s academic journey.

At Gardner-Webb University, the Career Center encourages students to view career development as an ongoing conversation rather than a final checklist before graduation. From exploring interests to gaining internship experience and building professional relationships, students are supported every step of the way.

Career Preparation Starts Earlier Than You Think

Many students assume they’ll visit the Career Center once they’re ready to apply for jobs. In reality, the most successful career preparation often begins during a student’s first year.

Through classroom visits, workshops, and individual conversations, students begin connecting their college experiences with their future goals. Rather than simply asking, “What do you want to do?” the conversations often focus on a deeper question:

What kind of work will be meaningful and enjoyable?

As Micah Martin, director of the Gardner-Webb Career Center explains:

"We do less assessments and more career conversations, because today's students want to have an ongoing conversation about the experience they're having in college, how it aligns with their future goals, and how they're actually feeling about it. And so, a lot of those conversations now are more about what do I feel like is an enjoyable way to spend my work life versus what do I want to do for a living."

A Career Center Offers More Than Résumé Help

While résumé reviews and interview preparation remain important, today’s college career centers provide much broader support.

Students can receive guidance with:

résumé and cover letter development
internship searches
interview preparation
networking with employers
researching industries and occupations
exploring career paths
understanding job descriptions
professional readiness planning

Rather than completing these tasks for students, the goal is to help them develop skills they’ll continue using throughout their careers.

As Martin explains, students are learning a process—not simply receiving answers.

"We also do a lot to help students network with employers which they need more practice at than they probably expect. And we do a good bit of helping them research industries, fields, types of jobs, even using things like AI to research job descriptions for things that align with their skill set."

Why Internships Matter

One of the most valuable experiences students gain during college is an internship or another professional readiness experience.

These experiences allow students to:

Martin notes that some students even pursue a second internship after discovering a different direction they’d like to explore.

That kind of discovery can be incredibly valuable before graduation, giving students the opportunity to make informed career decisions before accepting their first full-time position shared Martin.

"Some of our students do an internship and realize this industry is not what I thought it is, or this experience is not what I thought it's going to be like. I want to try something else and, I'm glad I figured that out in an internship versus my first job where I'm trying to pay my bills with a job that I don't enjoy."

Sometimes the Most Important Question Is "What Fits Me?"

Not every student enters college knowing exactly what career they want.

That’s okay.

Career exploration is part of the educational experience.

Rather than immediately pointing students toward a major or profession, the Career Center often begins with conversation—learning about students’ interests, strengths, and experiences.

For students who need additional guidance, tools such as the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment can help identify natural talents and create a starting point for exploration.

Those conversations often lead students toward opportunities they hadn’t previously considered notes Martin.

"It usually starts with, 'Hey, come into the office and let's sit down and just talk about you for a few minutes. Very frequently, our students do have an idea. They're often scared to say it out loud."

Talk to People Who Do the Work

One of Martin’s strongest pieces of advice is surprisingly simple:

"Talk to people doing the work you think you want to do and let us help you connect with them if you don't have people you can connect with. For example, if you’re considering nursing as a career, you need to talk to a nurse about what they love about their job, but what they also don't love, what they find challenging.”

Career research goes beyond reading job descriptions online.

Students gain valuable insight by asking professionals questions like:

Those conversations often lead to mentorship, networking opportunities, and internships that cannot be found through a search engine alone says Martin.

“It's easy for us to connect them with employers who are eager to talk with them about it. And a lot of times, they’re selling them, the employer's selling them the idea, ‘hey, if you're interested, come work with us.’”

Practical Ways Students Can Prepare for Their Future

Students shouldn’t wait until senior year to begin preparing for their careers.

Consider these steps:

Visit the Career Center during your first year.
Attend workshops and networking events.
Explore internship opportunities early.
Build relationships with faculty mentors.
Stay engaged with Career Center communications throughout college.

Small, consistent steps often create the strongest foundation for long-term success adds Martin.

"If we can teach you some things in college and prepare you for what's next, you won't need us very much after college. The old adage, if you teach a man to fish. So that's what we're trying to lean into. Most of our grads leave here already hired or accepted in grad school.”

Get Into Action

Whether you’re exploring majors, searching for your first internship, or preparing for graduation, the Gardner-Webb Career Center is designed to help you grow professionally throughout your college experience. Students are encouraged to connect early, participate often, and take advantage of the many resources available to prepare for meaningful careers.