In the limited research in graduate master-level career services, students are challenged to balance commitments and find time for professional development. These are barriers to student engagement with career offices, and while students prefer and need to develop tangible career skills with practical application to their field of study, the key to their student development is confidence building. Such confidence often comes in promoting understanding of the job search, the process, and knowing how to market their skills and experience. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated relationship building to be a successful strategy for bolstering student confidence and skills.
Peer advising is a widely accepted and utilized strategy for advancing career development in undergraduate populations. However, a graduate student peer advisor’s unique position as returning professionals currently taking classes, provide ongoing opportunities for career offices to promote student development within advanced degree programs. Graduate peer advisors have experienced field-based practice providing specific context to their advising, helping career offices to move beyond the fundamentals of good counseling practice and professional development. Furthermore, as a near peer, there are additional opportunities to focus on building relationships within the student population. This session will explore how peer-to-peer connections have expanded the scope of our career offices and met student needs. Specific components will include leveraging graduate peer advisors, facilitating small groups, and organizing alumni networking programs.
Following this program, you will be able to:
- Summarize execution of peer advising and peer-to-peer programs at the graduate level as a method of enhancing career service delivery;
- Explore opportunities to engage graduate students in peer-to-peer connections to foster professional development and leverage collaborative learning; and
- Consider opportunities to implement or expand practices in graduate peer programs at home unit.