In an effort to share relevant, career development information with students and alumni, Career Services has created the “Career Stories” interactive tool. The tool allows viewers to watch interviews of Elon alumni, parents and students discussing common career development issues such as choosing a major, participating in experiential activities, networking and answering difficult interview questions.
Viewers can watch entire interviews or specific answers to questions of interest. Current “Career Stories” interviewees include Darris Means ’05, assistant director of Elon Academy; Martin Wise, an Elon parent and CEO of Relationship Capital Partners, Inc.; Lisa Dawn Akers ’08, account coordinator at BFG Communications; Jim Bollenbacher, an Elon parent and director of environmental health and safety at Alcoa Power and Propulsion; and six other professionals.
Ross Wade, assistant director of Career Services for the School of Communications, worked with Colleen Callahan ’09,G’10, at the time a student in the inaugural Interactive Media class, to conceptualize, develop and execute the idea over the 2009-2010 school year.
“Colleen was the force behind the entire project – she coordinated the interviews, shot and edited all of the videos, and then worked with David Morton in University Relations on ways to create the tool,” Wade said. “We are so thankful to our Elon alum and parents for taking the time to be a part of this innovative tool.”
Career Services hopes to add new interviews every year to reflect professionals of diverse industries, ages and backgrounds.