As the director of University Career Services, Ronesha Love’s goal is to equip career development professionals with the tools to positively impact the student experience.
Twice a year, Love and her team coordinate and plan career fairs designed to put students in front of real opportunities and foster networking connections.
Here, Love takes Nebraska Today behind the scenes of her daily work.
You are the director of Career Services here at the university. Can you talk about what this role entails and what excites you about the role?
As the director of University Career Services, my role centers on leading our office’s efforts to collaborate with career development professionals across campus. Our office manages major career and internship fairs, the Handshake platform, the Micro-Internship and Mentoring program, HuskerWorks and the Career Development Scholarship Challenge. Additionally, we provide key resources like Big Interview, Focus 2, “What Can I Do With This Major?” and the Job and Internship Guide.
I find great excitement in working closely with professionals from various departments to create valuable opportunities for students as they navigate their career journey. My goal is to continuously add experiences that help students gain the skills they need not only for graduation but for success in their careers afterward.
Twice a year, Career Services hosts a career fair connecting students with over 800 employers. What does the preparation for an event like this look like?
Our office leads the committee in planning efforts for career fairs and related events across campus. Preparation begins months in advance, as we meet monthly throughout the academic year to review the previous fair’s outcomes and determine areas for improvement. As the dates approach, my team focuses on communicating with employers, finalizing event logistics, creating marketing materials and organizing volunteer support. This process is crucial in ensuring that we provide an organized and impactful experience for both students and employers.
What can students expect to walk away with at the Career Fair?
Each career fair is tailored to specific focus areas, so students can encounter employers that align with their career interests. Career fairs can seem overwhelming due to the number of individuals in the room. We encourage all students to attend, as it’s an excellent opportunity to begin networking and potentially secure internships or job offers. This gives them exposure so when they are ready to network with employers, they know what to expect. We do have career professionals at the fair for students to talk to if they have any questions about networking with employers. As students exit, we ask them to fill out a survey about their experience at the fair.
What opportunities do students have to enhance their professional careers outside of the Career Fair?
In addition to career fairs, niche events are hosted by college career professionals to connect students with employers. These events are much smaller than our career fairs but still offer a great opportunity for students to network with employers.
Career professionals within each college offer tailored support, including resume reviews, mock interviews and guidance on experiential learning opportunities. Many of these opportunities are posted on Handshake, but working directly with a career professional can help students select the best opportunities for their goals.
Students can also enhance their network through in-person or LinkedIn interactions with employers. Other unique opportunities include the Career Development Scholarship Challenge, which students can enter to win prizes for completing tasks related to their career development, and the Micro-Internship Program, where students can engage in an eight-week internship with a local employer.
How does your office partner with the college career professionals to assist and prepare students?
We view our office as part of a larger career development network across campus. This network includes not only college career offices but also other departments and units that provide career-related resources. By collaborating with these professionals, we ensure that students receive comprehensive support throughout their career development journey and employers are able to access the students to help in their recruitment efforts.
Can you speak about your passion for helping others and building relationships and how this translates to your role?
My passion for helping others and fostering meaningful relationships has been central to my work since I began as a career coach nine years ago. Initially, my mission was to help individuals discover their career interests and provide the tools they needed to achieve their goals. In my current role, although I do not work one-on-one with students directly, I’m still deeply committed to creating a positive and impactful experience for them through the resources and events we offer. I actively seek feedback from students, faculty, staff and employers to ensure that we continuously improve and provide value to all who interact with Career Services. I understand that it’s impossible to meet everyone’s expectations, but I aim to create experiences that make sense for the majority, enhancing their overall career development.
Do you have any advice or tips for students actively seeking an on-campus job, summer internship or full-time position after graduation?
I always recommend that students start by ensuring their Handshake profile is up to date. Since many employers use this platform, it’s vital to have a complete profile. That said, some employers don’t use Handshake, which is why networking is important. I strongly suggest meeting with career professionals in your college to review your resume, practice your networking pitch and get advice on networking strategies. LinkedIn is another tool, and our career professionals can help enhance your profile. Attending career fairs is a great way to explore opportunities. Our office also hosts an on-campus job fair at the beginning of the academic year where students can learn about on-campus employment opportunities.
Is there anything that people may not know, but would be interested to know about Career Services?
Career development services have been a part of campus for over 50 years. Over the years, we have experienced some changes. One major change made to our office includes shifting career professionals, who work more one-on-one with students, from the Nebraska Union office into the colleges themselves. This helps provide more personalized, targeted support. As we continue to evolve, our mission remains the same: to collaborate to provide Huskers with skills and opportunities to build confidence for their unique career journey.
How would you encourage more students to utilize campus resources, specifically Career Services?
Students should start by making contact with a career professional. I encourage students to start meeting with career professionals early and often. This gives the professional and student more time to explore what the student is interested in and prepare them for the next step after graduation. Of course, there are professionals placed in the colleges and units across campus; however, students are more than welcome to stop by our office in the Nebraska Union if they are unsure where to start. Visiting our website provides a list of resources students can use to get started as well.
