Kristen Reeves Reporter and Sara Leimbach Editor
MT. BERRY, Ga.– Berry College stands above other Georgia colleges in that 93 percent of its graduates are employed six months to a year after graduation.
In the most recent data, collected from the 2013-2014 school year, the average percentage of employed Berry graduates was 10 percent higher than the national average.
“That (statistic) has been pretty constant the past 10-15 years I have been working here or even before,” Sue Tarpley, the Career Center director, said.
This can be credited to the various options, free services, and events Berry provides for students who are preparing for life after graduation. These opportunities include networking events, mock interviews and appointments with the Career Center on campus.
Matt Medley, Berry alumnus, who is working professionally for State Farm, credited Berry for teaching him the trait of learning how to think critically.
“There are very few good jobs in the world that only require people to deal with black and white situations day in and day out,” Medley said. “The employees that move up quickly make hard and decisions lead others well.”
Students are also exposed to the reality of a work environment through Berry’s Work Experience Program. The program employs, on average, close to 95 percent of the student body throughout their time at Berry.
Berry’s work program is unique because it allows students to have real work experience, which sets them apart from others when looking for a job. Students are encouraged to work jobs within their major. Through the program they already are gaining skills for their desired field of work.
“Berry gave me a lot of opportunities to apply knowledge to different situations through work, campus ministries, and student publications,” Medley said. “Plus, learning how to multi-task during those four years serves me every day in my current career.”
The Career Center also strongly advises students to seek out and get involved with internships as they prepare for graduation. Berry has had students participate in internships with companies as big as Disney, RaceTrac and Georgia Pacific. These internships with name recognition companies are encouraged, as some potential employers mistake the Work Experience Program as simply a work-study program
Taylor Moore, a senior at Berry, completed an internship this summer at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. She was able to combine both her interests of public relations and biology as the aquarium’s PR intern.
“Do your research, know the company or organization and give it your all,” Moore said. “If nothing else, you’ll build great relationships with people who can help you in the future.”
Moore also credits her Berry professors who have gone above and beyond to help her get ready for life after graduation and aiding her in becoming confident in her abilities.
The Career Center is available to aid students in locating internship programs where previous students have participated, as well as help research for other opportunities.
Through internships like Moore’s, Berry graduates have been able to witness firsthand what qualities employers are looking for. Internships also help develop characteristics that are admired in the professional work field, such as leadership, communication skills, problem solving and teamwork.
“That little school up in the hills of Northeast Georgia has given you all the tools you need to succeed and the secret is starting to get out,” Medley said.