Developing Professionally and Educationally

The Center for Career and Professional Development is a resource available for all students. This resource is located in the Galloway Business Building, Suite 102, and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

While the center has its office hours, it also hosts events throughout the semester to help students in various ways. Two being held this semester are “Speed Interviewing” on Nov. 14, from 1-3 p.m. and “Free Professional Headshots” on Nov. 12 from 1-4 p.m..

“Not only do we do free professional headshots every semester where we bring a photographer on campus, we also wrote a grant through the Houston Area Consortium of Career Centers,” Nicole Kyles-Burton, career consultant, said. “We implemented a headshot studio here in our office. So, if students need to have a professional headshot at the last minute, they can come in here.”

At this studio, Kyles-Burton said that they provide backdrops, lighting, and a stool. Students will come in, set their phone up in the designated spot, and then can take their own headshot. 

“They can schedule an appointment through Handshake, or they can just come in,” Kyles-Burton said. “We have professors who bring in their whole classes. We have student organizations that come over and use it to make sure their students have professional headshots.”

Handshake is the app the center uses to not only schedule these appointments, but to also connect students to employers as an online recruiting tool.

“It’s one of the top platforms across the nation, not just Lamar University,” Kyles-Burton said. “Every student is given a Handshake account based off of their Lamar email, but they have to go in and activate their Handshake account so they can start getting our emails. They can communicate with employers who might reach out, take advantage of all types of career options, and find jobs or internships.”

On Nov. 13, the center will be hosting “Handshake and a Smile” for World Kindness Day, and students can come into the center for help setting up their accounts. The day after, students can hone their interview skills at Speed Interviewing.

“It’s kind of like speed friending where you will sit in front of employers and practice interviewing for them,” Kyles-Burton said. “One of the employers will ask you a question, you will answer, and they can give you feedback. So it’s a way for them to practice really quickly, take some feedback, and be able to perfect their elevator pitches.”

Students unable to attend but wanting interview help can check out Interview Prep virtually anytime.

For both interviews and headshots, a business professional or business casual appearance is recommended. Some tips for this type of dress, according to Kyles-Burton, include trading out baseball caps and ripped jeans for slacks, blouses, button-down shirts, and skirts. If students do not have access to this type of dress, the center has a Career Closet available where they can check out clothes. 

“I feel like we have the best department on campus, but it’s an underutilized resource,” Kyles-Burton said. “I want all of our students to utilize our services so we can help them transition from college to a career. We instill self-confidence in our students, and they know that when they leave here, they are ready.”