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Juan and Lisa Jones Center for Career Preparation

Your education at Beacon sets the stage for your career adventure, and we’re here to help our students and alumni navigate this great journey! Beacon’s unique career advising program starts the day you begin at the college. With the career team at the Juan and Lisa Jones Center for Career Preparation, you’ll have a dedicated career advisor assigned to you who will help you develop professional assets and access the latest tools and personalized career resources, such as Handshake and Big Interview. Your career team will also engage you in a variety of interactive career events both in-person (on and off campus) and through virtual opportunities with local, regional, and national partners.

Worker Bee's meeting with a student at a convention

Samuel Underwood discusses career prospects at the Lake County Career Fair sponsored by CareerSource Central Florida, our region’s leading workforce board for the Sunshine State.

A photo of a beacon college student feeding a giraffe

Pierre Bernard works with a giraffe during his summer internship with the Caldwell Zoo in Texas where he participated in 1:1 animal care on the Mammal Team by preparing the daily diet and clearing brush to feed elephants more naturally while observing other species and interacting with zoo guests.

Student using a computer for mock interview

Ben Sweetland participates in a 1:1 virtual interview with a Southwest Airlines recruiter to learn more about their neurodiverse internships for their Information Technology department.

group of students posing for a photo

Career Immersion Program students toured the Think In Print Shop with its owners to learn more about the design and production process for a variety of client projects and marketing collateral.

Unlocking Future Paths

Samuel Underwood discusses career prospects at the Lake County Career Fair sponsored by CareerSource Central Florida, our region’s leading workforce board for the Sunshine State.

Wild Adventures

Pierre Bernard works with a giraffe during his summer internship with the Caldwell Zoo in Texas where he participated in 1:1 animal care on the Mammal Team by preparing the daily diet and clearing brush to feed elephants more naturally while observing other species and interacting with zoo guests.

Breaking Barriers

Ben Sweetland participates in a 1:1 virtual interview with a Southwest Airlines recruiter to learn more about their neurodiverse internships for their Information Technology department.

Design Discovery

Career Immersion Program students toured the Think In Print Shop with its owners to learn more about the design and production process for a variety of client projects and marketing collateral.

Shake Hands and Interview Big

You’ll be connected to the latest career resources through our career center team. At your fingertips, you’ll be able to connect with thousands of internships and job opportunities through Handshake, our all-in-one career management system. Additionally, you’ll have access to Big Interview, our new interview practice system that leverages AI and human feedback. All of these resources are FREE for students!

Handshake

Through Handshake, you’ll schedule appointments with your career advisor, set up individualized job searches, store resumes and e-portfolios, and register for career events. Handshake is designed exclusively for college students — and used by every Beacon student!

Register Today

Big Interview

With Big Interview, you’ll be able to participate in our new interview practice system that leverages video with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human feedback. From internships to early careers and graduate school to scholarships, Big Interview helps to better prepare you for every type of professional interview. Our career center team is ready to assist you with this unique resource that mirrors hiring practices now being used across industries nationwide.

Register Today

Career Development: More In Four+

At Beacon, your career development path is critical to us, so you’ll participate in a four-year career development program in your journey towards your bachelor’s degree. Through a combination of coursework and engagement, our More in Four+ approach helps you learn more than just career options. Our program concentrates on identifying your values, strengths, and goals; further developing your professional communication skills and work attitudes; preparing resumes; honing interview skills; and understanding the ever-changing industry trends as you seek career opportunities after graduation. From job shadowing and our Career Immersion Program to internships and experiential learning, you’ll be prepared for a successful transition from college to the workplace or graduate school.

Our job is to help prepare you, not just for your first job but to successfully navigate a career journey that is constantly evolving. Do you have career questions? Confident in your career vision? Still unsure of what you want to do after college? Just like you, every question matters — no matter what your stage in life or your age when you ask the question. Let us help you develop your blueprint for your career plans and envision the kind of life you want through hard work and persistence.

Career Preparation News

Career Development

Career Center Makes “Big” Investment in Student/Alumni Career Success

February 1, 2024

“Big Interview” is an AI-assisted job interview training tool designed to reduce anxiety and improve outcomes by giving users the opportunity to practice and get immediate feedback.

Career Development

New Zoo Internship Affords Student Close-up of Wild Kingdom

December 6, 2023

Anthrozoology major Pierre Bernard interned at one of Texas' largest zoos, providing an experience that gave him practical insights into caring for animals, a better understanding of their behavior, and greater knowledge of zoo operations.

Career Development

Testing the Waters at Off-Campus Career Fairs Prepares Students for the Workforce

October 11, 2023

Beacon students attend the Lake County Career Fair and learn about potential career options.

GAP Closet

Getzel wardrobe for men and Admire for ladies is a Professional (GAP) wardrobe resource room for Beacon students that helps you fill in any “gaps” you may have when needing to dress for success for career fairs, interviews, and the workplace. Need a piece to complete your look? With a wide selection of suits, blazers, skirts/slacks, ties, and button-down shirts, you’ll make that first impression a positive step as you enter the professional world for any of your short-term events.

To visit the GAP Closet, please check in at the Career Center using the Handshake kiosk.

Employers: Discover Your Future Talent Pipeline with Beacon College

Employer engagement takes place across our campus and our community through physical events — like our annual career fair — and on digital platforms with online training sessions, employer info sessions, and Handshake appointments. Our Beacon career team is here to assist your recruitment efforts to identify talented, neurodiverse candidates for your internship and early career opportunities with your business/organization. We’re here to help you find your next great coworker! Reach out to our career team today for your internship and early career hiring needs at 352-638-9808 or careercenter@beaconcollege.edu.

Alumni Career Assistance

13

Average number of jobs held by a worker through their retirement

4

Average number of years spent at a position

Your career path will lead to multiple job opportunities, and Beacon is here to support you through a variety of career transitions. Our Career Center’s alumni services include access to Handshake, Big Interview, career counseling, resume review, and much more. Wherever you call home today, Beacon alumni can be supported by an assigned career advisor through in-person meetings (for local alumni) or virtual meetings. Reach out to our career center team today at 352-638-9808 or careercenter@beaconcollege.edu.

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Meet the Juan and Lisa Jones Center for Career Preparation Team

Melissa Bradley

Director of Center for Career Preparation

352-787-1658mbradley@beaconcollege.edu

Chealsie Curts

Coordinator of Career Advisement

352-638-9826ccurts@beaconcollege.edu

Jennifer Turton

Career Advisor

352-638-9755jturton@beaconcollege.edu

Brianna Rivera

Program Assistant

352-638-9809brivera1@beaconcollege.edu