Beyond the Diploma: How Bellarmine Students Prepare for the Job Market
By Niki Kollaritsch
October 1, 2026
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Graduation may mark the end of college, but for Bellarmine University students, preparing for what comes next should begin long before they graduate.
As students work toward their degrees, professors and career professionals say gaining experience, building connections and preparing early can make the transition from college to the workforce easier.
One of the most important ways students can prepare is through internships.
Marketing professor Anita Tyler said internships allow students to gain professional experience before graduation while also helping them discover what type of work they may, or may not, want to pursue.
“One of the best things you can do is an internship, and even more than one. The more diverse your internships can be, the better, and getting those experiences is going to put you at the top of somebody’s list,” Tyler said.
Internships can give students experience applying what they have learned in the classroom to a professional environment, which is something employers increasingly look for beyond a college degree. Even if a job or internship is not directly related to a student’s field of study, it can still provide valuable work experience.
“I had a little taste of the job world over the summer when I was coaching tennis at a country club, and it was definitely good getting that experience,” Zak Vince, a business administration graduate student, said.
But experience alone may not be enough. Building relationships with people in a student’s field can also play an important role in finding opportunities after college.
Senior exercise science major Olivia Barnett emphasized the importance of reaching out to people and using the connections students make throughout their college careers.
“It never hurts to reach out to people. A lot of connections I got were just reaching out to people I knew that were in that career field, and they really gave me the best information,” Barnett said.
Audrey Alvey, assistant director at Bellarmine’s Career Development Center, also stressed the importance of building a professional network early in college.
“Start building your network now. You should have been building it your first year, but once you are in your senior year, start really relying on Bellarmine connections you made,” Alvey said.
Alvey said students should also look to the people they interact with in the classroom as potential professional connections.
“Use the professors that work in your industry. They are great connections,” Alvey said.
Those connections can become especially important when students begin looking for opportunities after college.
“A lot of the times, it is not about what you know, but who you know,” Vince said.
Business instructor Ron Newton said networking can be more important in some industries than others. He emphasized that students can also prepare themselves by focusing on actually learning and understanding course material rather than simply memorizing information for an exam. He said he believes having that deeper understanding can help students stand out to employers.
“To me it’s about learning stuff, not just memorizing it long enough to take the test and get an A on it. It’s about really understanding the basics so well that you can figure out applications and extensions,” Newton said.
Beyond the classroom, Bellarmine’s Career Development Center offers resources to help students transition into the workforce, including resume and cover letter assistance, mock interviews and career-focused events throughout the year.
“We have several events happening, for example a graduate school prep event, our career week, professional headshot opportunities, career fairs, or the alumni-mentor program in the spring,” Alvey said.
Alvey encourages students to visit the Career Development Center to talk about their plans for the future. She also recommends that students begin thinking about their careers before senior year rather than waiting until graduation approaches.
Vince said he should have started planning earlier than he did.
“I probably waited a little bit too long to use the resources of the Career Development Center,” he said.
Students who have used the Career Development Center said its resources helped them think more about their options after college.
“I love the Career Development Center. I thought it was so helpful for me and my career plans,” senior communication major Katie Rowland said.
Other students have also found the center helpful in exploring career paths they may not have previously considered.
“They were really helpful and also gave me a lot of resources and a lot of career options that I had not thought of before,” Barnett said.
For some students, preparing for life after college can feel overwhelming, especially when they are unsure what they want to do after graduation. Barnett recommends gaining different experiences and being willing to explore different possibilities.
“I think you can really gain a lot from different experiences, even if it is not exactly what you end up going into. I think just exploring as much as you can and getting your foot in is the first step,” Barnett said.
She said students may try something they initially think they will not enjoy and end up discovering that they love it.
For seniors wondering when they should begin applying for jobs, Alvey recommends starting well before graduation.
“You want to start applying at least six months before you graduate. The fall is a great time to do research to be ready to apply by January if you are graduating in May,” said Alvey.
While students may take different paths after graduation, professors and career professionals emphasize that preparation does not have to wait until senior year. Internships, professional relationships and career resources can help students build a foundation before they begin sending out applications.
Even if students do not immediately land the job they want, Tyler said they should continue building connections and looking for opportunities.
“If you have not gotten the job that you would like, keep networking,” Tyler said.
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