"For example, our most recent results from the First Destination Survey Report for the 2015-2016 graduating class indicate 83 percent of those employed accepted jobs before graduation and 97 percent accepted employment within six months," he says. One of Career Services' most effective tools is the recently launched Handshake, an interactive resource interface that allows OU students and alumni to browse and apply for job openings, internships and other professional development opportunities.

"This past fall semester, over 1,600 employers posted more than 3,700 jobs and more than 750 internship opportunities (to Handshake)," says Thibodeau, explaining that one of the office's recent initiatives has been to increase visibility among employers and students. "We are expanding beyond North Foundation Hall to have services and staff co-located in different (University) buildings full time."

Career consultants are building a career community in high traffic locations across the campus by facilitating career related programs and employer meet-ups to learn about industry needs, says Thibodeau.

"Our Career Ambassador Program offers a triage approach for trained students to meet with peers, putting them at ease to begin career development discussions," he says. "They go across the campus and promote careers and make students feel comfortable about the subject of careers."

Career Services helped Oakland University psychology major Haniya Halim get accepted to graduate school at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Career Services helped Oakland University health sciences major Vincenzo Julian get accepted to graduate school at Yale University.

Another part of Career Services' outreach is its yearly events, such as internship mixers and networking meet-ups. The Winter Career Fair, held January 25, 2017, attracted nearly 1,000 students and more than 200 employees. Career Services also hosts smaller niche events that focus on a particular major or school on campus.

"We also bring employers out to meet with students to help with some branding of their organizations on campus," says Dorner. "Quite a bit of that goes on in the School of Business Administration and the School of Engineering and Computer Science to market their organizations."

When you're a freshman, Career Services may sound premature. But Dorner says it's never too early to start cultivating a career.

"I would rather students experience talking with a professional when they are casually searching for career opportunities," she says. "That way when they are ready to look for a job, they already know what to expect."

Having great grades is always good, says Dorner. Yet, "Grades are no longer enough," she says. "You have to have some experience."