So, like, guess what? Graduation gowns are still available at the book store, can you believe it? I mean, you’d think they would all be snatched up by now, but nope. This news was taken on Feb. 24, 2025, at the Memorial Union in Ames, IA.
As students from Iowa State University gear up to enter the real world, the university’s career services and opportunities are there to help them out. Tessa Brow, the assistant director of Career Services for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), said, “We totally want to empower students. Like, we offer super high-quality coursework and help with job prep so students are totally ready for whatever comes next.”
Iowa State has this whole career-service setup where each college has its own office tailored to its students’ needs. Brow said, “My team and I are all about supporting LAS students, whether they’re undergrads or grad students. Plus, the Graduate College has even more services for grad students.”
One of the biggest resources at Iowa State is CyHire, which is a job board just for students. It has internships, part-time gigs, and full-time jobs up for grabs. Brow explained, “CyHire is like, super important. It has a ton of opportunities, and each listing is there because an employer wanted to post it. A lot of them are specifically looking to hire Iowa State grads.”
CyHire also doubles as the on-campus student job board and has an employer directory. It helps with scheduling career advising sessions and acts as the main calendar for career events like fairs and employer sessions.
Brow stressed how important these events are for students to network. “Employers come to campus to meet students, talk about their companies, and find new talent. Those face-to-face convos are really valuable.”
Despite some uncertainty in the job market, things are looking pretty good for the class of 2025. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 89% of surveyed employers plan to keep hiring at the same level or even increase it compared to 2024.
Iowa State’s career data from 2023-2024 supports the positive outlook. Iowa State University Career Services found that 76.9% of bachelor’s degree grads were employed within six months of finishing school. Half of them stayed in Iowa, 41.6% landed jobs out-of-state, and 0.8% took positions abroad.
Besides finding jobs, Iowa State focuses on building transferable skills through coursework and other activities. Brow mentioned, “Employers are all about hiring based on skills now. Things like communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork are more important than specific degrees.”
Iowa State offers tons of ways for students to gain these skills, whether through clubs, learning communities, or experiences outside the classroom that boost their resumes.
Brow advised students who are about to graduate to reflect on their experiences, save important projects, and get help from career services. “Your academic work totally counts on your resume. It shows off the skills you’ve learned.”
She also recommended keeping up with professional connections. “You gotta connect on LinkedIn and stay in touch with your teachers and classmates. Networking is key to finding new opportunities.”
Brow encouraged students to start early and stay engaged in their career development. “It’s a process, you know? We’re here to help you every step of the way, even after you graduate.”
And like, that’s the scoop on how Iowa State is setting students up for success after graduation. So, if you’re a student there, make sure you take advantage of all the resources available to you.
