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The Center for Career Engagement Opportunities (CEO) bridges the gap between students, alumni, and employers, providing valuable connections that can lead to mentorship, internships, and career opportunities. Whether you’re looking for guidance from alumni who have been in your shoes or seeking job openings from employer partners, the CEO is your go-to resource for building meaningful professional relationships.
Alumni Mentorship & Networking
Our alumni network is an invaluable resource for students seeking career advice, mentorship, and job opportunities. The CEO provides multiple ways for students and alumni to connect, including:- Hornet-2-Hornet Networking Events – Meet and engage with alumni who can offer insights, career advice, and professional connections.
- Lynchburg in D.C. Program – A unique partnership that connects students with professionals in the Washington, D.C. area for career development and networking.
- Alumni Career Panels & Workshops – Learn from graduates who have successfully navigated the job market and can offer first-hand advice on launching your career.
- LinkedIn Alumni Network – Connect with University of Lynchburg graduates to build professional relationships and explore career paths.
Employer Partnerships & Job Opportunities
The CEO works closely with employers to provide students with job and internship opportunities through platforms like Handshake, one of the most trusted college recruiting tools. Employers can:
- Post job and internship openings through Handshake to connect with University of Lynchburg students and graduates.
- Host on-campus and virtual recruitment events, career fairs, and company info sessions.
- Engage with students through mentorship programs and networking events.
By fostering strong employer relationships, we ensure students have access to top-tier opportunities in a variety of industries.
What Employers Look For in Graduates
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) identifies key skills that employers seek in college graduates. At the CEO, we help students develop these essential competencies:- Technology Skills – Employers value candidates who are comfortable using digital tools and adapting to new technologies.
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving – The ability to analyze situations and develop solutions is a major advantage in the job market.
- Global & Multicultural Awareness – Understanding different cultures and perspectives is essential in today’s diverse workplaces.
- Internship & Real-World Experience – Employers prefer candidates with hands-on experience before entering the job market. The CEO helps students find internships that provide valuable work experience.
- Lifelong Learning & Professional Growth – Careers evolve over time, and having an entrepreneurial mindset helps graduates adapt and thrive in any industry.
Job Search Resources
Through the CEO, students have access to a variety of job search tools and resources, including:
- Handshake – A comprehensive career management platform where students can search for jobs and internships, register for career fairs, and connect with employers.
- LinkedIn Jobs – A powerful tool to explore job openings, research companies, and network with professionals.
- Glassdoor – Offers company reviews, salary reports, and interview questions to help students prepare for job applications.
- General Job Databases – Including CareerOneStop, Monster, and Indeed, which provide thousands of job listings and career insights.
Additionally, our Launching from Lynchburg Initiative is designed to prepare students for their post-graduate careers.
This program includes:
- College-to-Career Courses – Credit-bearing classes that teach job search skills, networking, and professional development.
- Career Workshop Series – Covering topics such as résumé writing, interviewing, and workplace professionalism.
- Hornet-2-Hornet Networking – Opportunities to meet and engage with alumni mentors.
By leveraging these resources and opportunities, students can gain a competitive edge and confidently step into their careers.
Employer Services
Meet and screen students on their platform of choice, Handshake. As the most trusted college recruiting platform, Handshake enables employers to connect with students through targeted outreach, dynamic branding, and digital features like virtual career fairs and events.
To learn more about how you can partner with us, please check out our Employers page and Pro+ page.
You are key to our students’ success. We look forward to working with you on internships, job fairs, or presentation opportunities. Visit our staff page for contact information.
Launching from Lynchburg
The Launching from Lynchburg initiative provides programs and services that prepare and position recent University of Lynchburg graduates to realize their goals for employment and graduate school.
Examples of the programs and services we offer include:
- To Prepare – Maximize Your Opportunities at Lynchburg
- College-to-career courses, credit-bearing classes that help students learn skills needed to engage in a successful job search process
- College-to-Career Workshop Series, covering topics from resumes, internships, networking, mock interviews to professional etiquette and more
- Enroll in the Pro+ program designed for students to gain the professional skills necessary to transition into graduate school or a job upon graduation.
- To Position – Gain the Competitive Edge
- Hornet-2-Hornet, student-alumni networking events, introducing students to alumni who can aid their career access and knowledge.
- Handshake is a comprehensive, online career management system designed to give students direct access to quality internships and jobs.
- Lynchburg in D.C. is a partnership with organizations in the Washington, D.C. area, including the Washington Center.
These collaborative efforts are sponsored by the offices of Alumni Relations, Career Development, and Student Leadership and Activities and supported by the university’s Strategic Plan.
What Employers Demand
The National Association of Colleges and Employers asked today’s professionals to identify the major skills college and university graduates need to succeed in the job market. Here’s what they said:
The Ability to Work with Technology
How your University of Lynchburg education prepares you:
Computer literacy is part of college and university life. Our networked residence halls and computerized labs for the Wilmer Writing Center, as well as math and foreign languages, complement a number of state-of-the-art computer labs in areas such as psychology, nursing, and video communications. You have free access to the Internet and the holdings of many libraries.
Critical Thinking Skills
How your University of Lynchburg education prepares you:
Development of this important skill is at the heart of a liberal arts education. Our graduates tell us that their ability to question, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information was the foundation of their experience and essential for their professional and personal lives.
Undergraduate research opportunities and the symposium readings program help you develop these skills.
Global Perspective and Enhanced Foreign Language & Multicultural Skills
How your University of Lynchburg education prepares you:
Required courses in a foreign language and world history lay the foundation for a rich and diverse environment. You gain a world perspective from currently enrolled international and minority students, internships and study abroad, relationships with our sister schools in Korea and Japan, and well-known speakers who bring a global perspective to current issues.
Career-related Experience Before Hitting the Job Market
How your University of Lynchburg education prepares you:
Internships offered locally, regionally, and internationally are vital to the academic experience. You may find that your internship affirms your career choices or that the experience leads to a new interest.
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning and an Entrepreneurial Attitude Toward Career Development
How your University of Lynchburg education prepares you:
Nationally, more than half of today’s college and university graduates will change careers during their lifetimes. Many will be forced to make changes due to new demands for products and services, and many will change because they want a new challenge. A liberal arts education provides the communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills needed for these transitions.
Enroll in the Pro+ program designed for students to gain the professional skills necessary to transition into graduate school or a job upon graduation.
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