Service-oriented jobs, in light of nationwide economic downturn, considered a 'wise career move' for Loyola graduates
Jacqueline Lovdahl
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: News
For the past couple of years, Loyola's Center for Community Service and Justice and the Career Center have partnered to host a nonprofit and community service career fair for Loyola students who are interested in pursuing service opportunities and professional work experience after graduation.
Many alumni have reaped the benefits of working with non-profit organizations post-graduation and have proven that full-time community service is a wise career decision in light of the current economy. The number of Loyola graduates who pursue full-time service opportunities is growing, which raises the question of whether or not the current economic climate has to do with students' career decisions of turning to service-oriented work.
Last Monday, about 40 organizations and 140 interested students filled McGuire Hall to learn about the benefits and details regarding various international and domestic service organizations.
Jennifer Rowley, assistant director and internship coordinator of the Career Center, believes that students are choosing this nonprofit career route because they are passionate about serving others - they are not just choosing this career move as an alternate to a job offer.
"A lot of students consider nonprofit careers as a possibility after their completion of their Loyola education because of the Jesuit mission and values that they have embraced as a result of being a part of the Loyola community. I believe that a lot of the service opportunities that students participate in during the course of their time here open their eyes to the possibility of continuing this work after leaving Loyola" said Rowley.
Senior CCSJ Service Coordinator Melissa Rosvold, who is interested in pursuing work with a nonprofit organization after graduation, believes that this opportunity will turn a part-time job of performing service here at Loyola into a full-time job working with a larger organization.
"This opportunity will better me as a person because it will allow me to fully give myself to others" said Rosvold.
Many alumni have reaped the benefits of working with non-profit organizations post-graduation and have proven that full-time community service is a wise career decision in light of the current economy. The number of Loyola graduates who pursue full-time service opportunities is growing, which raises the question of whether or not the current economic climate has to do with students' career decisions of turning to service-oriented work.
Last Monday, about 40 organizations and 140 interested students filled McGuire Hall to learn about the benefits and details regarding various international and domestic service organizations.
Jennifer Rowley, assistant director and internship coordinator of the Career Center, believes that students are choosing this nonprofit career route because they are passionate about serving others - they are not just choosing this career move as an alternate to a job offer.
"A lot of students consider nonprofit careers as a possibility after their completion of their Loyola education because of the Jesuit mission and values that they have embraced as a result of being a part of the Loyola community. I believe that a lot of the service opportunities that students participate in during the course of their time here open their eyes to the possibility of continuing this work after leaving Loyola" said Rowley.
Senior CCSJ Service Coordinator Melissa Rosvold, who is interested in pursuing work with a nonprofit organization after graduation, believes that this opportunity will turn a part-time job of performing service here at Loyola into a full-time job working with a larger organization.
"This opportunity will better me as a person because it will allow me to fully give myself to others" said Rosvold.
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