The Oakland University Career and Life Design Center, formerly known as Career Services, opened its doors to students, staff and faculty with a grand opening ceremony on Aug. 31. With the newly-adopted motto “Explore. Discover. Connect,” the center offers an array of modernized professional readiness services to OU students.
“Our goal with this rebranding is to provide modernized tools that meet the needs of all students,” Kelly Dorner, director of Career and Life Design and Campus Partnerships said. “The beauty of the career and life design model is that we tailor our services to meet students where they are at.”
The rebrand of Career Services has been years in the making. Dorner emphasized staff members involved in the rebranding process wanted to give students a personalized experience.
One unique service the Career and Life Design Center offers is the AI technology resume review. Students can bring their current resume to the center’s Career Studio to be processed by Big Interview AI software. Then, a Career Ambassador will assist the student in reviewing the suggestions given by the AI program.
Although the Career and Life Design Center has modernized its existing services, the center has kept its foundation consistent.
“We are still sticking with tradition, offering similar services and programs to students,” Dorner said. “The goal of the rebranding was to elevate our tools and make them more accessible.”
The center plans to continue holding drop-in hours at its Career Studio. From Monday to Thursday, students can meet with Career Ambassadors in the Career Studio at any time from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive assistance with anything from resume preparation to interview advice.
As in years past, the Career and Life Design Center will host career fairs, allowing students to network with employers in their field. The center will host its annual Fall Career Fair on Sept. 26 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Oakland Center. Students can register for the event on Handshake.
Jordan Smith, an OU sophomore, is excited to return for his second year as a Career Ambassador at the center.
“At the grand opening event, I was responsible for educating staff and faculty about the center and the services we offer to students and alumni,” Smith said. “I think the rebranding will benefit OU in the long run, as it centralizes a wealth of professional development opportunities.”
President Ora Pescovitz has nothing but good things to say about the rebranding of the Career and Life Design Center.
Pescovitz recognized OU’s high achievements in various collegiate ranking reports at the most recent Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting on Sept. 11.
Pescovitz pointed out Oakland ranks second in Michigan for preparing students for careers. She also recognized that 89% of seniors report having at least one internship throughout their academic career at OU.
“This new center will enable students to design their lives with purpose and strive to achieve their full potential,” Pescovitz said.
To learn more about the Career and Life Design Center, visit the center’s webpage. For questions related to the services offered by the center, email [email protected].
