"Care for the care-giver." This year in particular, we are consumed with helping others. What about ourselves? It is easy to become burned out, sometimes without even knowing it, when you are giving so much of yourself to others. In addition, many career services practitioners are dealing with the added stress of budget cutbacks, travel restrictions, hiring freezes, and possible layoffs or furloughs. Can you be sure that you are "recession-protected" if not totally "recession-proof"? And can you take care of yourself so that you have the strength and resources to take care of others?

This interactive session is geared to career services staff at all levels who want to learn about and share ways to stay fresh, motivated, energized, and marketable. Hear tips on avoiding boredom and burn-out. Instead, learn to build on your experience and expertise to maintain excitement about your work, and to continue making valuable contributions to your center and to the career services profession.

The central mission for any career services office is to provide direct services to our students and other clients. In light of the current economic conditions, most career centers are facing a dramatic increase in demand for services. This session will focus on concepts to create systems that reduce client waitlists and efficiently respond to demand for services. Also, we will address a wide range of issues, practices and programs that relate to students’ experiences as they engage our services. When clients use our services, we have limited opportunities to create positive first impressions -- through the availability of immediate service, our signage, brief contact with our front line staff, and the use of technology-based services. Client engagement is also through more in-depth programs such as intake advising and career counseling. Student engagement topics addressed in this session will include:

• Creating an office-wide commitment to customer service in providing a welcoming environment.
• Efficient - user friendly programs such as drop-in/intake services.
• Overview of a theoretical approach that maximizes delivery of career programs that respond to increased client demand for services.
• Technology-based, innovative services such as virtual career counseling, needs-based websites, web 2.0 networking applications and ePortfolios
• Offering a comprehensive array of career programs that are responsive to clients needs in tough economic times.