All posts by Aundra Williams

Student success in career services

Front of Tarpon Springs Entrance Arch
Career Exploration, Featured, Student Stories, WebApproved

My name is Kelicia Jones, and I am the Administrative Intern here at St. Petersburg College. I am currently working in the Workforce Hub with Career Services, while simultaneously obtaining my Associates Degree in Business Administration. I was a dual enrollment student at SPC during my senior year of high school and decided to continue my education here after graduating in 2013. Yes, this is eight years later. I believe that utilizing Career Services as a resource earlier within my schooling would have allowed me to find my major sooner. Nonetheless, I have learned my lesson and I am glad to be able to present student success in career services with these helpful tips!

St Petersburg College provides a center for Career Services to help guide students towards their career path. Some students, like myself, can be undecided on which career path they want or which professional sector they are interested in. This can cause students to waste so much time taking unnecessary courses and signing up for programs they truly may not need.

For this reason, it is important to utilize Career Services and the tools they provide, making it easier to find and prepare for your career.

Career Preparation

Career Services can help you save time and money by choosing the right path. They can also help you begin and build connections in your interested field of study.

  • Career Coach: Helps you make decisions about your future career goals and education plans.
  • Informational Interviewing: Offers meetings with someone for insight on the experience or knowledge about a company/career.
  • Job Shadowing: allows observation of professionals as they work to see if you are interested or fit for the career/position.
  • Community Events: Held to assist in the networking process in relevance to your desired industry.

Employment Preparation

Now after you’ve completed all academic requirements you can start preparing for employment opportunities. Career Services provides workshops and platforms to assist students in getting ready for the real world.

  • Optimal Resume: a management tool used to create resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and even practicing interviewing
  • Mock Interviews: practice with professionals to help improve interviewing skills and ease nervousness
  • Hire SPC Titans: an employment site for job and internship postings

I wish I recognized the planning systems many years ago, and then maybe I could have realized that the route I was taking was not the best fit for me. I have been taught the importance of a cover letter, the appropriate way to format a resume, the value of researching a job, and the need for personal branding. I may have missed out on some of these things before, but during my internship experience here at SPC I‘ve gained a lot more knowledge. I would like to give special Thank you to Aundra Williams and Carissa Roldan for providing me with the opportunity to work with them this semester. Their passion and drive for student achievement provides a wonderful opportunity for student success in career services!

Are you ready for an internship?

Now that you’ve been given some insight into SPC’s great internship opportunities, please review our FAQ Section in order to fully grasp the complete internship process.

Hire SPC Titans is our customizable online tool for career and internship opportunities. There you can discover new employment opportunities that are right for you based on your major, interests, and skills. Take a moment to explore SPC’s Handshake portal today

Inside the Internship Experience

Career News, Employment Preparation, Internships, Student Stories, WebApproved, ,

Ariel Desousa’s story

Hello, fellow Titans! My name is Ariel Desousa, and I would like to share insight into the most impactful aspect of my educational journey, which was my internship at St. Petersburg College. Within a few weeks, I will graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies & Community Leadership. I hope to bring useful information to help you with your own internship experience at SPC.

My internship experience

Ariel Desousa, SPC Intern

I completed my internship at St. Petersburg College’s Tarpon Springs Campus, and it was an unforgettable experience. The opportunity presented itself in the newly built Career Hub, located in the Bilirakis Building. The building was coated with fresh paint and faces, as well as new ideas, which allowed my creative innovation to flourish. I was provided my own desk at the entrance, making me the first point of contact to assist students.

While my expertise did not lie in this area, I was met with great assistance from Career Services leaders, Aundra Williams and Carissa Roldan. They both pushed me to exceed my own expectations, and I immediately felt welcomed and a part of their team. They nurtured my professional development and ensured it remained of the highest importance. Most importantly, they allowed me the freedom to explore and share my ideas regarding my contribution to the department.  

What’s in it for me?

During my internship, I was able to develop meaningful relationships with those within my desired field. Networking is an essential part of securing a lifelong career. Highlights of my internship include using my creative and artistic abilities. I created different flyers and documents for events. In addition, I assisted in preparing for a large-scale Career Expo which gave me experience outside of my normal scope.

Seeking an internship at SPC?

If you’re seeking an internship with SPC, it is important to remember that you will be working with other educators and staff members who have experience in your field of study, therefore, I am sharing the four things I learned while interning at St. Petersburg College.

  • In education development, your ideas and input matters.
  • Seeking feedback is optimal.
  • Be an active part of your workplace culture and environment.
  • Build positive rapport with your supervisors and coworkers.

Overall, my internship experience did wonders in building my confidence as a professional leader that feels comfortable giving back to the educational community by sharing my experiences and earned knowledge.

Find an internship today!

Now that you’ve been given some insight into SPC’s great internship opportunities, please review our FAQ Section in order to fully grasp the complete internship process.

Handshake is our customizable online tool for career and internship opportunities. There you can discover new employment opportunities that are right for you based on your major, interests, and skills. Take a moment to explore SPC’s Handshake portal today.