Karen Marks heads career services for arts students
By Natalia H. Schust and Lauren Highfill
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Assistant Director of the Career Services Center Karen Marks (right) helps a student in her job search. Photo by Patrick Bowling |
In the world of work, College of the Arts students have a lot to offer, says Karen Marks, assistant director of the Kennesaw State University Career Services Center. For the past year, Marks has overseen the career needs of COTA students and has been spreading the word about how the career services center can help COTA students in their job search.
At the career center, Marks works with COTA students on an individual basis, taking into account the student’s interests, goals and skills. In particular, COTA students can learn how to use the online career portfolio so that they are able to include it in their job applications. The online career portfolio gives the student the ability to easily retrieve, and refer to, valuable documentation of their works and experiences. “For art students, their creative portfolio is of major importance when displaying their work and that’s why knowing how to use it is essential,” said Marks.
Marks encourages COTA students to explore all the different career opportunities available to them—from a position at an art gallery to one in a company’s creative department. Marks explained that companies may look for arts graduates because they wish to have a more creative approach in their problem-solving teams. “Due to their talent, skills and training, arts majors are able to offer more innovative and unique solutions than other graduates,” explained Marks.
Over the past year, Marks has spread the word about the services that the career center offers to COTA students by sending out informational e-mails and making presentations in several arts classes.
The KSU Career Services Center offers career planning assistance to all KSU students and alumni through their various available services, including cover letter and resume help and digitally recorded practice interviews.
For more information, visit the career center Web site or call 770-423-6555.