Career Development Center's Drop-In Career Studio Changes Hours

Carolyn Chitwood

Tom Coker, a career peer mentor, assists a student with their resume.

The Career Studio in the University Career Development Center is shifting its hours of operation for the spring. The studio is an open-concept environment where UA students and alumni can drop in for general career-related services without an appointment. Studio hours are now 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and it is located next to the University Career Development Center in Arkansas Union suite 607.

The Career Studio is staffed by career peer mentors, highly trained undergraduate and graduate students representing multiple academic programs on campus. These mentors provide one-on-one and group advising/coaching with some of the CDC's most popular services, including resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and graduate/professional school application assistance. They also may assist with LinkedIn profile reviews, job/internship resources, interviewing tips, and career fair etiquette. In its inaugural semester during fall 2019, career peer mentors supported 500 students and alumni with 578 career services.

A Career Studio is wholly unlike anything else the Career Development Center had previously, as it restructures the who, what, where, and how of its student-focused service. Before the fall 2019 semester, the CDC counseling team offered services in a more traditional, one-on-one appointment basis. Over 40% of CDC appointments are resume reviews, and prior to fall 2019, students might have had to wait up to three weeks for an appointment. The studio offers an immediate option, which in turn enables counselors to provide higher-level career assistance with things like career/major exploration or salary negotiation.

Students who prefer appointments for any of the CDC's services or who are unavailable during Career Studio hours may make appointments with career counselors through Handshake or by calling the CDC at 479-575-2805.