Q and A: Career Development Center Director Robin Darmon

Q and A: Career Development Center Director Robin Darmon

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Robin Darmon is director of the University of San Diego’s Career Development Center. She’s in her third year on campus and focuses on connecting USD students and alumni to professional opportunities. “I love guiding students as they connect with organizations, watching mutually beneficial initiatives that promote the career paths and successes of both parties evolve,” she says. “The past 20-plus years of my career has been committed to supporting the professional exploration and success of students from an array of backgrounds with a wide range of goals. I love to help make connections between organizations that span all industries and sizes to a group of very talented professionals.”

To help the campus community learn more about the Career Development Center, USD News Center asked Darmon to participate in a Q&A. Here are her responses:

How does the Career Development Center prepare students to successfully enter a world filled with opportunities and challenges?

At the University of San Diego, career preparation is an institutional responsibility, involving schools, departments and faculty across the university, as well as the broader, external, Torero family. The Career Development Center is a hub, connecting students with university resources, employers, alumni and others to prepare students for successful lives after USD. Our goal is to help students graduate with a clear understanding of their professional options; plans to achieve their initial career and life goals; and the knowledge, skills and experience to maintain long-term success. Our hope is that graduates will recognize the role USD played in guiding them to rewarding careers, helping them capitalize on their strengths, do what they love and achieve financial independence.

Name three of the best resources the Career Development Center offers students and why?

• The C-Dev Team: An amazing group of professionals with diverse set of backgrounds and skills that really allow students to get the support they need in the way that is most helpful. The C-Dev Team really, really cares about guiding and supporting our students!

• Alumni, Friends, Families, and Employers: Our professional network not only offers our students amazing internship and job opportunities but also serves as mentors to our students as they explore professional paths.

• ToreroLink: 900-plus jobs and internships posted 24/7, offering USD students a wide range of professional choices!

What’s different about today’s job market that’s made you change the approach to how you help students prepare for a career?

The economy is more dynamic than ever before. Technology and the global economy force all of us to be flexible, resilient job seekers for life. We must be professionals that are always ready to adapt. Thus, the C-Dev team must constantly re-think how we prepare students for this type of ever-changing work environment.

When is the best time for students to consider an internship and why?

As soon as possible. Between the first and second year is a great place to start. The more internship and engaged experiences, the better. Some benefits of an internship are:

• Employers increasingly want to see experience in the new college grads they hire.

• You may get paid more when you graduate if you've done one or more internships.

• Internships enable you take your career plan for a test drive.

• You'll gain valuable understanding of your major field and be better able to grasp how your coursework is preparing you to enter your chosen career.

• You'll develop skills and gain confidence.

Torero Trek was successfully launched last spring. What’s new about this year’s Trek trips?

More of everything. On Oct. 23 when we go to the San Francisco Bay Area, there are two simultaneous treks — a Tech Trek to Silicon Valley to visit LinkedIn and Adobe and a Consumer Products Trek to San Francisco to visit Williams-Sonoma, Method and E&J Gallo. We’ll plan a Trek to Seattle in January. We’re also planning treks in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles.

What opportunities do you have to assist USD alumni with job placement/training/advice?

Our doors are always open for alumni who are in career transition. We have online resources in addition to individual counseling.

What advice would you give to a first-year student, a transfer student or even a senior who is new to the Career Development Center?

Come see us! Just do it — come in and meet with a career counselor and begin crafting a strategy for professional, lifetime success!

What best captures the effectiveness of the Career Development Center?

To be fair, all that we do is so integrally linked to the fact that the campus as a whole is an incredibly student-focused culture. The culture of care is alive and well. But two thoughts capture, for me, effectiveness of the Career Development Center:

After the Sept. 15 Torero Talent Career and Internship Fair, an employer sent me the following note: “USD has been a good resource for us in finding talented people. We appreciate that USD has provided us very smart, creative, professional and motivated people to help grow our business in San Diego. We look forward to a continued relationship in providing a great opportunity for USD candidates as well. In the future we would like to do information sessions, on-site interviews and take advantage of other opportunities to help your students’ transition into good careers.”

And I love that 90 percent of USD’s Class of 2014 indicated that their current position aligns with their professional career goals. I’d like to think that the Career Development Center played some role in guiding those students to confidence in their career path!

To connect with the Career Development Center, please visit its website www.sandiego.edu/careers and social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo.