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After Marisssa Lightsey shared with our class about her role as Director of Career Development at OBU, I realized that her function as Career Coach is to help students market themselves to potential employers. I thought Ms. Lightsey would have the whole class period to speak to us, but that was not the case. Since I was curious to know more about her job, I decided to interview her. The Career Development Center helps OBU students and alumni create and develop resumes and business cards. Ms. Lightsey also holds workshops to teach prospective job applicants to enhance their online presence, especially on Facebook and LinkedIn. I should mention that the Career Development Center is run solely by Ms. Lightsey. I was curious to know about the set of skills that a Career Coach must have and the means of obtaining those skills. As for Ms. Lightsey, she earned a master's degree in Human Resources Management from East Central University. Prior to working with the Career Development Center at OBU, she worked with high school students helping them with their career aspirations. According to Ms. Lightsey, a Career Coach must be willing to help others. Looking for a job, going to your first job interview, accepting a job offer... all of these are exciting moments. A Career Coach can help you experience these wonderful events! As far as competitors go, the Career Development Center is the only source of career services on the OBU campus. Nevertheless, Ms. Lightsey did point out that most universities typically have some type of career services office available to students. Before interviewing her, I thought Ms. Lightsey also offered her services to the general public but she does not. She only helps current OBU students and OBU alumni. Knowing that her customer base consists of OBU bison only, I asked her to identify her more common clients: currents students or alumni. She said that during the school year, it is more common for her to help current students. During the summer, she is more likely to help alumni. However, she mostly helps current students. When asked about any ethical issues or concerns a Career Coach may face, Ms. Lightsey could not identify any. Thinking of this, I asked her whether all OBU students/alumni are qualified to get help from her. In other words, are there cases in which Ms. Lightsey knows that not even her help will solve a particular student’s or alumnus’s problem? She said that all students are fit to get help, but they need to make themselves available; they must seek help before it is too late. According to Ms. Lightsey, the latest a job seeker should wait to get help from a Career Coach is three months before graduation. For many of us, seniors expected to graduate in May, the three-month deadline is quickly approaching. Carlos Sosa // Oklahoma Baptist University Find me on LinkedIn! Special thanks to Marissa Lightsey!
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