I’m Erin Berthon, Manager of Career Development and Alumni Relations for Wilkinson College, and I’ve been at Chapman for 10 years. One of the best parts of my job is helping students figure out what they can do with their interests, major, and ultimately their Chapman experience. And here’s something I want you to know right away: you do not need to have your career figured out before you come see me. In fact, I would much rather meet you while you’re still exploring! College is the perfect time to try things and discover new interests. Take a class outside your comfort zone, consider adding a minor that complements your major or introduces you to an entirely different field, get involved on campus, study abroad, volunteer, conduct research, or try an internship. Sometimes the experience you least expect is the one that changes the direction you want to go. This is also what looks great on a resume!
I want to help you learn how to network and use the incredible resources already available to you at Chapman University. Networking doesn’t have to mean walking into a room full of strangers and handing out business cards. It can start with talking to a professor, connecting with a Chapman alum on LinkedIn, attending a Wilkinson event, asking someone about their career, or letting me introduce you to someone in an industry that interests you. We can work together on your resume, LinkedIn, internships, interviewing, graduate, or law school. I will teach you how to turn what you are learning in the classroom into skills employers are looking for. There are so many resources available to you; you just need to know they exist and how to use them. You don’t have to navigate all of this on your own. I am here for you!
And then there’s AI. I know many students are wondering what AI means for their future careers and whether the jobs they are preparing for today will even look the same a few years from now. The reality is that AI is changing virtually every industry, but I don’t want you to be afraid of it. I want to help you learn how to navigate it, use it responsibly, and understand where your human skills still matter. Communication, critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, relationship-building, judgment, and the ability to work with people will continue to be incredibly valuable. You will certainly get this as a Wilkinson student. Your goal shouldn’t be to compete with AI; it should be to learn how to work alongside it and understand how it is changing your field.
So here’s my challenge to you this semester: come meet me before you need me. Stop by to introduce yourself, make an appointment with me on Handshake, attend one of our career or alumni events, connect with me on LinkedIn, or email me saying, “Erin, I have absolutely no idea what I want to do.” We can work on that! So please, come say hello. Just don’t wait until April of your senior year to walk into my office and say, “Hi, I graduate next month…and I think I need a job.” But if you do? Don’t worry. I’ll still help you.
