When Devon Holifield came to Martin University, he brought an important lesson from his time as a pastor.
“You have to meet people where they are,” said Holifield, a career development manager at the university. “It was important for me to understand the needs for our students, but then also to make myself readily available to them.”
That principle, meeting people where they are, prompted Holifield to start Martin’s biweekly drop-in career clinic. From 1-4 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, students can come and get career guidance — no appointments necessary.
While the clinic is normally for Martin students, the university is opening it up to the public through Sept. 1. Holifield is trying to make it as easy as possible for people to come in and ask for help finding jobs.
“It’s about eliminating all the excuses to get that person to where they’re trying to get to,” Holifield said.
What to expect
“What does success look like to you?”
That’s the first question Holifield asks when people come to the career clinic.
“It enables them to paint the picture and what that looks like, so I can know specifically how to help them to be able to articulate that and bring that vision to life,” he said.
During the drop-in hours, Holifield helps attendees with every step of the career navigation and application process. That includes everything from filing for unemployment benefits to resume help to practicing for mock interviews.
But Holifield doesn’t just want to help people get jobs — he wants to help them stay employed. Skills like communication, for example, will help people keep their jobs long term.
“Obtaining the job is only 10% of the battle,” Holifield said. “As a career coach, we do get the pats on the back when those people are hired on. But it’s really more so when you can see that that person has been on the job 30, 60, 90 (days).”
How to attend
The university’s career clinic drop-in hours are from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Martin University, 2186 N. Sherman Drive. The sessions are in the career center on the first floor.
Drop-in career hours are free and open to the public until Sept. 1.
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, on most social media @clairerafford or on Signal 317-759-0429.
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