Ask an Expert: Wasserman

It’s never too soon to think about your future career. Bethany Godsoe, who leads the Wasserman Center for Career Development at NYU, explains what students should know about starting to develop the competencies that today’s employers are looking for in new hires.

NYU: What can high schoolers do to make themselves career-ready?

GODSOE: Students should practice introducing themselves to others and learn how to ask for advice and help from adults who aren’t family, like someone from their after-school programs, summer job, or a teacher whose class they haven’t taken. That’s a critical transition they can start making now, because it’s important to find nonrelatives who will invest in them. It’s also a good idea for students to start thinking not just about what career path will be the most meaningful and fulfilling for them, but also how they can develop the resiliency they’ll need to cope with an ever-changing marketplace. Starting to develop that skill set will set them way ahead when they arrive at college.

NYU: Can you explain what you mean by “develop the resiliency they’ll need to cope with an ever-changing marketplace”?

GODSOE: It means developing competencies like critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that are needed at the highest levels across all jobs, so that if they should ever need to make a career transition, they’ll be able to pivot without too much trouble.

NYU: And once students arrive here on campus, how does the Wasserman Center assist them in their career development?

GODSOE: We work with students every step along their journey from college to career. We help them identify possible career paths with assessment tools and interest inventories, connect with professionals to build their network and gain experience, develop their professional skills, and learn job search strategies to secure internships and full-time opportunities in their chosen field.

NYU: What’s the best way for students to avail themselves of the career development resources at Wasserman?

GODSOE: They can come to our drop-in hours or set up an appointment with a career coach as soon as they start their studies. A career coach can help them identify and secure a campus job, apply for internships, polish their résumé and cover letters, practice their interviewing skills, and create a full-time job search strategy. They can even help the student find an alumni mentor in their field who can show them what they’ve done with their degrees. In addition, students can schedule coaching appointments virtually wherever they are in the world, so we can keep meeting with them even if they choose to study abroad. We have lots of video resources and other online resources, and we’re hoping to facilitate virtual recruiting interviews, which a lot more employers are doing now.