How ARHU Students Can Get the Most Out of the Career Center

From exploration to job applications, the University Career Center @ ARHU meets students where they are.

By ARHU Staff 

Most students don’t arrive at college with a career plan—and they don’t need to, says Kate Juhl, program director for the University Career Center @ ARHU.

Located in 1120 Francis Scott Key Hall, the center supports all students in the College of Arts and Humanities, as well as alumni up to one year after graduation. An integral part of ARHU’s Be Worldwise, Get Worldready Initiative, the University Career Center @ ARHU works collaboratively with faculty and advisors to create a supportive career ecosystem, connecting career preparation to the academic experience in the college.

Whether a student is unsure of their direction or already preparing job or internship applications, Juhl said she and career advising colleagues Caroline Bodnar and Catherine Kimechwa will meet them where they are.

“Don’t feel like you have to come to us because you already know the plan,” she said. “You can also come to us to figure out the plan.”

A Space for Exploration

Advisors in the University Career Center @ ARHU can walk students through every step of what Juhl calls the career decision-making circle, a framework that includes assessing yourself, exploring pathways, gaining experience, and preparing and applying. 

She emphasized that the process isn’t linear: “At any point, you might return to the circle based on experiences you have, and we help with each step.”

Students unsure of their interests can schedule an exploration appointment or use online assessment tools available through the university. 

Your Career Dashboard

Handshake is the university’s online career hub, where students can build a profile, search for jobs and internships, connect with employers, and register for events like job fairs and portfolio reviews. It’s also where students schedule in-person or virtual appointments with career advisors.

Juhl notes that the more active students are on Handshake, the more relevant opportunities they’ll see. “Even if you aren’t sure if you’re going to use it, I recommend everyone log in to Handshake and set up your account,” she said. 

Schedule an Appointment

There’s no limit to how many appointments students can schedule throughout the course of their university experience. Topics typically include: career direction and major exploration, résumé and cover letter development, internship and job search strategies, mock interviews, graduate school applications, salary research and negotiation basics.

Through the career center, students are bound to learn something new or make a valuable connection. For instance, Juhl said many students initially assume that applying online is the primary job search strategy. But she works with students to build additional approaches, such as identifying employers of interest and reaching out to alumni.

Alumni Who Want to Help

The Career Center can help facilitate connections with alums who were once in students’ shoes. “ARHU alumni want to give back; they want to help,” Juhl said. 

One major resource students often overlook is Terrapins Connect, a platform of nearly 23,000 Maryland alumni who have volunteered to support current students with career conversations or job shadowing. The universitywide Intern for a Day program offers another structured way to connect with professionals: students rank their preferred hosts, then participate in either in-person or virtual shadowing experiences based on their interests. Juhl said she and her team of advisors can help students navigate both.

Career Classes for Credit

Students looking for accountability can earn course credit while building career skills. Juhl’s team teaches ARHU-specific sections of EDCP 108i: “Academic Transitions to Internships” and ARHU358: “Becoming Worldwise and Worldready: Finding Success in College and Life.”  

“These classes help students stay on track with professional development even when their schedules are packed,” Juhl said.

You Don’t Have to Know Everything Yet

Juhl said that most ARHU students don't graduate with their entire future careers mapped out, and she wants them to know that’s normal.

“People are going to have not just several different jobs, but in some cases, two or three distinct, different careers over the course of their lifetime,” she said. 

Her advice? Start early, stay curious and don’t navigate it alone.

Photos by Taneen Momeni. Top: Kate Juhl meets with a student. Embedded: Advisors Catherine Kimechwa, Caroline Bodnar and Juhl.