Connecting College & Career: WC Director of Career Development Presents at State Conference

Meg Langland, Director of Career Development, recently presented at the annual Missouri ACT Conferences. Held in St. Louis (March 2) and Kansas City (March 3), the conferences reflected an emphasis on collaboration between Missouri educators and ACT with the theme, “The New Big Picture.”

Langland presented on “College and Careers” and covered how students enrolled in post-secondary education can develop themselves professionally and academically as candidates for employment or graduate school. Approximately 340 ACT educators, administrators and high school counselors attended the two conferences.

Langland’s presentation addressed the following questions:

• Are there jobs for college graduates?
• What are employers looking for?
• What influences students’ career development?
• What are some tools used to enhance students’ career development?

“Besides getting an excellent education, students should become involved in activities in and outside the classroom where they can learn and practice qualities especially valued by employers,” says Langland. “These desired traits include teamwork, communication skills, and analytical thinking, as well as the ability to practice good time management.”

Langland says she enjoyed participating in networking through the ACT conferences and sharing with the high school counselors how they might best prepare their students for the college experience.

“It was exciting to be in the midst of school counselors from all over the state, from private and public schools, as well as admissions staff from dozens of universities,” says Langland.

Feature photo: Meg Langland, Director of Career Development, talks with students and Westminster alumni during the Fall 2014 “Career Connections” event, sponsored by the Alumni Council.