“It’s What I Do Now”: How Graduates of Color Developed Marketable Skills as On-Campus Student Employees

• In Event: Student Development and Learning Amid Class, Careers, and Crisis

Abstract

Sparse research has explored how students of Color working in on-campus student affairs positions develop marketable skills to gain employment upon graduation. Filling this critical gap, this study explored the student affairs employment experiences of students of Color (n=12) to learn how these students benefited from on-campus employment, developed marketable skills, and gained post-graduate employment. Findings suggest students of Color were easily able to identify and articulate marketable skills they developed as students that they use in their everyday professional work, including management and facilitating teamwork, developing digital literacy, and developing cross-cultural competencies. Implications for research and practice are addressed.

Authors

• Christopher Burnett, Texas State University

• Zach Taylor, John Burton Advocates for Youth