Biggest Challenges For A Professional Development Manager At University Of San Diego
Konnor's biggest challenge as a Professional Development Manager is "getting students in the door" and encouraging them to proactively engage with career resources, because while the university provides ample opportunities like events and resume workshops, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink." Overcoming student apathy towards professional development, especially early in their college experience, is a persistent hurdle.
Student Engagement, Career Services, Professional Development, Motivation, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Konnor McMillen
Professional Development Manager
University of San Diego
San Diego State University
University of California- Santa Barbara
Psychology
Education
Education
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Getting students to take the initiative and engage with professional development resources is a major challenge.
2. Making students aware of available opportunities and motivating them to participate is difficult due to competing priorities and a perception that career development is a distant concern.
3. Encouraging early and active involvement in professional development is crucial for students' career journeys.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
This goes back to the old saying: you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. A lot of it is getting students to take the step themselves.
As a professional development manager, my job is to facilitate many different opportunities. This includes events, recruiters on campus, and seminars on resume writing and networking.
However, we cannot force students to attend or take that step in their journey. The hardest part is getting buy-in from students and ensuring they are aware of opportunities and want to attend.
It's tough because students have a lot going on, like enjoying college and participating in other organizations. Professional development and career planning can seem far off.
I always encourage students to get actively involved as early as possible. The biggest challenge in my role is getting students in the door to start building relationships and their career journey.