Ahead of the Curve: Krannert's career development program recognized for its innovation
Friday, June 17, 2022
The Krannert School of Management’s career preparation program CareerBound has been recognized – again – for its innovative approach to professional development for college students.
At the 2022 Career Development Professionals of Indiana (CDPI) conference, CareerBound received runner-up in the Career Services Innovation category, a testament to the program’s cutting-edge design. CDPI is a group spanning over 500 members and 84 universities dedicated to the expansion and advancement of career services in Indiana. The Career Services Innovation Award is given to the career team that has demonstrated exceptional innovation in overcoming a challenge facing the profession.
Sarah Ratekin, director of CareerBound, attended the conference on behalf of Krannert and the program. The conference was a validating experience for Ratekin, who has championed CareerBound since its outset.
“What we are doing here in the Krannert Professional Development Center is not only right on par in many ways with what's happening at other institutions, but we really are ahead of the curve with the approaches that we're taking to the career services conversation,” Ratekin says.
CareerBound, which rolled out in fall 2021, has risen above the crowd with its innovative approach to career readiness. “We see a lot of sort of cookie cutter approaches to professional development,” Ratekin says. “We've turned that upside down and said, ‘You need to decide what your four-year plan looks like. We'll give you the tools to do that effectively.’”
It is this method that Ratekin wanted to demonstrate at the CDPI conference. To do so, she sought the help of Krannert marketing major Zachary Walter. He is an active user of CareerBound and was selected to participate in the conference for his remarkable career readiness progress during his freshman year.
“It was absolutely amazing to see the rapid development of confidence and comfort level with not only speaking in public, but with that sense of ownership over his own professional development,” Ratekin says. “This is the message we're hoping to have all of our students take on.”
Looking forward, CareerBound is expanding its involvement with employers who come to the Purdue campus. “Employers want certain skills. Students need certain skills,” Ratekin says. “So to me, that’s the piece of the calculus that will make it work.” Additionally, the CareerBound team is working with student organizations and campus centers to create a badging system dedicated to communication, professionalism, and leadership.
Ratekin and CareerBound plan to return to the CDPI conference in 2023 with new partnerships, new data, and new stories of student success.
CareerBound adds the CDPI Career Services Innovation accolade to previous recognitions: an outstanding new program award from Suitable and an “Early Start Innovator for Starting Career Readiness Awareness in Freshman Year” award from SkillSurvey.