Q&A with Lindsay Vallaster
Career Services plays a vital role in empowering students to navigate their professional journeys with confidence and purpose. By offering personalized guidance, skill development opportunities and access to valuable resources, OSU Career Services help students connect their academic experiences to meaningful career paths.
Lindsay Vallaster serves as the Assistant Director of OSU Career Services, overseeing the Student and Alumni Services team. In this role, Lindsay leads a dedicated group of Career Coaches who provide guidance on career development and readiness to students across campus. Lindsay is passionate about helping students discover their purpose and creating pathways for them to achieve their goals.
Q: What are the top three things students should do to make themselves more employable before they graduate?
A: First, recognize the value of their experiences both to them as a person and to a prospective employer. Each student is unique in the set of skills, abilities and experiences they have developed over the course of their life and in their collegiate career that can add value to a new team or work environment. Being able to communicate that value helps make a strong connection to the next position.
Next, have a growth mindset and continue to invest in professional development activities both inside and outside of the classroom to grow as a person and professional.
Finally, prioritize relationships and service. Each person’s career journey is different, and you never know where the link to your next opportunity could come from or how you could be an important part of another person’s journey!
Q: What resources or tools would you recommend students looking to land a great job or internship?
A: Students pursuing internships and jobs should have a diversified job search plan that encompasses strong job search tools, intentional networking service and a strong online presence. The Job and Interview Portal available through the Career Services’ website is a great place to connect with organizations seeking talent from Oklahoma State University for all levels of employment.
Regularly utilizing LinkedIn and other niche websites related to particular career fields of interest are also good sources for exploring opportunities. Last, but certainly not least, is networking. Networking in community and professional industry-related associations are excellent places to build relationships and find out about opportunities for jobs and internships.
Q: What trends are you seeing in the job market that faculty, staff and students should be aware of?
A: Students need to be particularly aware of their value proposition and what skills they bring into a workplace. As companies incorporate more skills-based hiring into their recruiting practices, competition for positions can expand beyond pursuing candidates of a certain major or degree program. The ability of students and other job seekers to articulate their transferrable skills and relevance to the position will be paramount to securing positions.
Another trend we see is the widespread use of artificial intelligence. For years, we have seen AI streamline applicant screening, however, now we are seeing job seekers utilize it in application development. Ensuring ethical use and utilization as a tool to enhance, but not replace, independent thought and creative processes is key.
Q: What can faculty and staff do to help more students secure internships or job opportunities before they graduate?
A: Many students are actively engaging in their career development through part-time positions, internships, research, study abroad, service and projects, but don’t always connect the dots. Helping students reflect on these experiences will help them understand the important value of these experiences to their careers. Utilizing the OSU Portfolio is one way to do this. Additionally, incorporating discussions and real-world projects in class as much as possible helps students see the connection of what they are learning to the world of work. Finally, encouraging students to begin developing in the direction of their goals through experiences that develop transferable skills can be the push for a timid student who may not feel ready to reach for their goals just yet.