Cornell's Fresh Take on Career Counseling

Whether you're undergrad or alum, Cornell's director of career development helps plan your job search, using developmental-based counseling

The Cornell University Undergraduate Business Program is housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), where students studying business earn a Bachelor of Science degree in applied economics and management. With over 700 undergrad B-school students, the CALS Career Development Office has to meet a broad spectrum of needs, says director Amy Benedict-Augustine.

Benedict-Augustine says using developmental-based counseling has made a real difference, even in helping those students who are unclear about what they want in a career. Three certified career counselors are on staff to help Cornell students (from accepted applicants to alumni) think objectively about how their skills and interests fit in the business world.

Also, seven student peer advisors assist with editing résumés, mock interviews, and managing events, such as bringing 15 wine industry employers to campus for a viticulture expo. The effort pays off: Over 76% of the undergrad business students last surveyed had landed a job in time for graduation.

A nationally certified career counselor, Benedict-Augustine arrived at Cornell's career services almost 16 years ago. She holds a masters in counseling psychology from Boston College. She recently spoke with BusinessWeek editorial assistant Megan Tucker. Here are edited excerpts of their conversation:

What are the most popular fields for undergraduates studying business?

The largest number of graduates choose to go into banking and financial services. The next most popular areas are consulting, marketing, and then management.

Which companies usually come to campus to recruit for full-time jobs?

Some of our top employers include JP Morgan (JPM), Morgan Stanley (MS) , E&J Gallo Winery, and Procter & Gamble (PG). Northeast Farm Credit also has a significant presence for our students who have an agriculture background.

What's the best way for freshmen to start preparing for their careers?

As soon as they're settled in at Cornell, we invite freshmen to start thinking about opportunities for the following summer. In their second semester, we have a program called FRESH, where students can shadow alums over their spring break. This is a great way for undergrads to get connected with alumni early in their school career. We also recommend that students keep an eye out for any activities or part-time jobs that might begin to test the skills and interests that they expect to put toward their future career.

Are there any on-campus organizations that are particularly useful for building business skills and including on résumés?

Cornell has many great organizations. The Society for Women in Business and the Investment Club are two that come to mind. Cornell also has two business fraternities, Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi.

How do you help students prepare for interviews?

We provide students with sample questions that they should anticipate being asked during interviews. Students develop answers to those questions and we videotape mock interviews between students and peer advisers. The students are given feedback on their performances. Also, we refer applicants to alumni in our career database, who can help them understand more about an organization.

How important is it for job applicants to ask questions during an interview?

Some students think that the questions they ask are the key to clinching an interview. However, the most important thing is to understand the skills and qualities you have to offer and being able to give clear examples and relate those qualities to what the employer is looking for.

I've never heard of a student being denied a job offer because he or she asked poor questions. However, I always encourage a student to have questions prepared that truly interest him or her.