GCU TODAY • 5
G
CU Today Magazine sat down with Jacqueline
Smith, director of career services, to chat about
the employment market that awaits some of
the 1,258 GCU students who are graduating and her
predictions on new and growing career opportunities.
Here’s what she had to say:
1
What does the job market look like for new
graduates of GCU?
I think it’s getting better. On March 6, we had a
job/internship fair on campus and more than 100
companies attended. All of them want to hire our
graduates!
2
What’s the best piece of advice you can give a
graduate entering the job market?
Network, network, network. Be prepared everywhere
you go. You never know who you might meet. Be ready
to “sell” yourself at all times, especially if someone asks
you, “What do you do?”
3
What are some of the top jobs and career fields
that you see emerging?
STEM (science, technology, engineering and math),
health care, financial analysis, and training and
development. Additionally, our nurses and teachers are
in high demand because of the quality of the education
they receive at GCU.
4
How can recent graduates still benefit from the
GCU Career Services Center?
All GCU alumni have lifetime access to career services.
They can contact our office and set up a one-on-one
meeting with one of our career advisers, or they can
talk with them on the phone. We are happy to review
their resumé and assist themwith a career plan. Career
services has created a “virtual” career resource center on
our website. You can research companies on Career Hub,
there’s a great tool to help you write your resumé, and we
have a job board full of companies that are looking to hire.
Reach us at
ail
call
602.639.6606.
5
What book is currently on your nightstand?
“Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People” by S. Truett
Cathy. A must read, in my opinion!
JANIE MAGRUDER
Got Your
Number
5 ON 5 WITH...
The largest traditional
commencement class in GCU
history has 1,258 invitees,
92more than last year.
And that doesn’t include
the 115 traditional nursing
students whowent through
fall commencement. More
on the Class of 2014:
Jacqueline Smith, Career Services
GCU employees
are a bighearted
bunch. They open
their wallets to
help good causes,
show up at events to lend a hand and pray for
each other. Now, they’re assisting Arizona
kids whose parents can’t afford private-
school education and public schools that are
struggling to sustain athletics or music.
Through Canyon’s Donation to Education,
employees have pledged nearly $500,000 to
private and public schools (including charters)
throughout the state. Created in February
2013 by Randy Bellah, of GCU’s Strategic
Educational Alliances, the program enables
employees to use an Arizona tax credit to
contribute part of their tax liability to help
families afford private-school tuition or to fund
extracurricular activities at public schools
(including charters). In return, employees
receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits that
don’t cost them anything. Good job, Lopes.
Readmore a
Oh,
Yeah?
photo by darryl webb
936
graduates accepted
invitations to ceremony
86
percent of grads
from Arizona
69
percent
female
416
Arts and Sciences
grads, the most of
any college
396
Nursing/Health
Care grads
59
age of oldest
graduate
19
age of youngest
graduates (4)
