Most institutions still treat career services as a transactional office—focused on résumés, job boards, and career fairs.
Helpful? Yes.
Strategic? Not in the eyes of most leadership teams.
That mindset is outdated—and dangerous.
In reality, when positioned and resourced well, career services drives outcomes that matter across the institution:
– Enrollment: families want proof their investment will pay off
– Retention: students who see a future are more likely to stay
– Time to degree: clarity reduces detours and indecision
– Student mental health: direction lowers anxiety and overwhelm
– Postgraduate success: the very outcomes now under scrutiny
Career services isn’t a side office.
It’s central to how students—and stakeholders—experience the value of college.
Failing to elevate career services has consequences you can’t afford:
Enrollment will decline
Families are asking “What will this degree do for me?”
If your institution can’t answer clearly, they’ll look elsewhere.
Retention will suffer
Without a sense of purpose, students disengage, switch majors, or stop out. That means lost tuition—and lost potential.
You'll fall behind in accountability
State and federal policy is shifting fast. Institutions are being judged on ROI: earnings, employment, and loan repayment.
Revenue is at risk
Declining enrollment and retention directly impact your bottom line. Career services doesn’t just support students—it protects revenue.
This isn’t theoretical. It’s happening now.
Career services is one of the few units that touches:
– Every student
– Every major
– Every stage of the student lifecycle
It can bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application.
It can shape how students make choices—academic, personal, and professional.
It can become the engine for institutional ROI.
But only if you position it to lead.
If you're ready to leverage that potential, explore our services→
You’re under pressure—from families, boards, and policymakers.
You need clear wins. Visible progress. Measurable outcomes.
What no one is saying clearly enough is this:
Career services can help you get there.
Not as an add-on.
As your institution’s ROI department.
We help you position career services for maximum impact. Let’s talk→
Paré Consulting helps institutions transform career services into a strategic engine.
We work with presidents, provosts, and career leaders to:
– Clarify the vision
– Align the office with institutional goals
– Build buy-in across campus
– Deliver results that matter
Ready to move from potential to impact?