Career Coaching
Career coaching is a collaborative process designed to empower you with the skills and confidence to navigate your career journey and prepare for your lifetime of opportunity. Our career coaches act as partners, supporting your career development, and serving as sounding boards and guides throughout the process.
What is career development? It's the ongoing process of exploring your potential, setting goals, and acquiring the skills and experience needed to thrive in your chosen path.
During your coaching appointment, we'll work together to:
- Clarify your goals: We'll help you define specific and achievable goals for each session. This could involve anything from exploring potential careers to crafting compelling resumes or tackling the job application process.
- Build an action plan: Once the goals are clear, we'll work together to develop an action plan to achieve them. This plan may involve connecting you with relevant resources and tools, like workshops, online courses, or networking events.
- Embrace the challenge: We'll ask questions that challenge you to think deeply about your aspirations and identify any areas needing further exploration. Don't be surprised if we "assign homework" – these activities are designed to support your progress and keep you motivated.
About our Coaches: Our career coaches are trained in career development best practices and deeply familiar with proven career tools and coaching techniques. Additionally, each coach has specialized knowledge of one or more industry areas.
Remember that we are your partner, supporting and encouraging you as you develop the skills and competencies needed for short- and long-term career success.
Effective Fall 2025, students who miss three scheduled ASC professional career coaching appointments without canceling in advance will lose access to these appointments for the remainder of their time as a student and alum. Only no-shows that occur on or after the start of Fall 2025 will be counted toward this policy. Drop-in services through the Career Studio and other career development resources will remain available.
Need help scheduling an appointment?
Schedule your appointment by following the process below, and when you hear from your coach, indicate your preference for appointment type.
- Log into Handshake.
- IMPORTANT – These two steps are required to access appointment scheduling in Handshake:
- Select and save your Academic Year (Freshman, Junior, etc.) next to your profile picture.
- Select your college (Arts and Sciences) under the “Education” section.
- Click on the Career Center button in the menu bar and then select Appointments on the following screen.
- To request a new appointment, click the Schedule a New Appointment button.
- Select the category and type of appointment you are interested in scheduling.
- Select a medium (in-person, phone call or video call) and a date and time that works for you.
- Enter details about the appointment in the What can we help you with? section, then click Request at the bottom of your screen.
- You will be taken to the overview of the appointment where you can cancel the appointment or add comments before the appointment.
- Make sure that you check your notifications for updates on the status of your appointment.
FAQ
Most appointments will address one topic area. If desired, students can work with us on a range of career-related topics at subsequent appointments. Below are common topics for career coaching appointments:
- Revising/refining a Resume, Cover Letter, Handshake, or LinkedIn Profile and more.
- Career Exploration and Planning:
- Career Exploration
- Career planning based on academic major
- Career planning for upcoming graduation
- Networking strategies
- Job or Internship Search Strategies based on your area of focus.
- Interview Preparation and Mock Interview
ASC Career Success offers the Career Studio, a dynamic drop-in space where all ASC students can stop by without an appointment for on-the-go career guidance from their peers. Student Peer Career Coaches can answer questions about resumes, cover letters, job or internship searches, and even help set up one-on-one appointments with a professional Career Coach.
If you’re aiming to secure a position within your chosen focus area, it's essential to have a polished and comprehensive resume. Begin your journey to career success by visiting our Career Studio for a detailed resume review. Once your resume is in top shape, take the next step by scheduling an appointment with a Career Coach who works with students in your desired field. This personalized guidance can provide valuable insights and strategies tailored to your career aspirations. Appointments can be easily booked through Handshake or by consulting with one of our Peer Career Coaches at the Career Studio. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your job search and stand out in your desired field.
- Do check the location information in your appointment confirmation email. Virtual appointments will include a Zoom link. In-person appointments will take place on the 1st/ground floor of Denney Hall.
- Do review any additional instructions in your appointment confirmation email. If you schedule an appointment to work on your resume, cover letter or hold a mock interview, you’ll be asked to submit relevant materials in advance. Doing so allows the coaches to prepare for your appointment and make the most of that limited time.
- Do arrive a few minutes early – whether your appointment is in-person, virtual or on the phone.
- Do know that you can meet with us more than once over the course of your academic career (and 2 years post-graduation!).
Starting in Fall 2025, if you miss three scheduled ASC professional career coaching appointments without canceling in advance, you’ll lose access to these appointments for the rest of your time as a student and alum. Only no-shows that happen during or after the Fall 2025 semester will count toward this policy.
To avoid this, you can cancel upcoming appointments via Handshake or by emailing the coach listed in your confirmation message if you can’t make it. If maintaining scheduled appointments is difficult given your other commitments, you’re encouraged to use the Career Studio for drop-in support—no appointment necessary.
Allison Adkins
Career Coach
She/Her/Hers
David Barnes
Career Coach
He/Him/His
David joined the Career Success team in January 2025, bringing over a decade of experience in higher education and student support services. He earned his B.A. in Communication – Strategic Communication from The Ohio State University and an M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, College Park. David has supported students in their academic and holistic growth, working in undergraduate admissions, student advising, and program management. He is excited to help students confidently navigate their career paths and seize opportunities that foster their professional and personal development.
Lori Bolton
Career Coach
She/Her/Hers
Lori is more familiar with recruiting and hiring practices in the following industry areas: Government, International Affairs and Public Policy, and Media and Communications. She can support students exploring or actively seeking jobs or career-building opportunities in these areas.
After 14 years away, Lori has returned to Career Services at Ohio State. She previously worked in Career Services at OSU Marion Regional Campus, the College of Medicine, and the College of Public Health. Lori has experience as an academic advisor, working with all majors to prepare students for transitions from high school to college, from two-year programs to four-year programs, and into the workforce or professional degree programs. She believes that students' diverse backgrounds and experiences are their greatest strengths and is committed to working with each student to cultivate, promote, and celebrate their individual talents. Lori holds an MS in Education with a focus on higher education counseling and a BS in Business Management with a minor in Communications. A lifelong Ohioan, Lori considers herself a National Park enthusiast, having visited over twenty parks so far.
Barbara Harvey
Career Coach
She/Her/Hers
Barbara has a deeper familiarity with recruiting and hiring practices in the following industry areas: Arts, Creative and Design, Education, Non-Profit and Social Impact. She can support students exploring or actively seeking jobs or career-building opportunities in these areas.
A native of Chicago, Barbara earned a B.A. in Applied Behavioral Science and an M.S. in Community Counseling from National Louis University in Illinois. She joined the Center for Career and Professional Success in 2019, bringing her expertise in community mental health and her experience with continuing education for adult learners at NLU. Barbara is enthusiastic about encouraging students to explore and embrace opportunities that enable them to expand and refine their professional goals.
Nathan Titkemeier
Career Coach
He/Him/His
Nathan has extensive experience in recruiting and hiring practices within the following industries: Health and Wellness and Science and Research. He is available to support students exploring or actively pursuing jobs and career-building opportunities in these fields.
Nathan joined the Career Success team in October 2024 after 5 years of working in mental health care. Following graduation from Ohio Northern University with a B.S. in Biology, Nathan completed an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences at Ohio State in 2016 and an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Penn State University in 2019. Nathan has experience working with undergraduate and graduate students in campus counseling centers and as a lab instructor for Biology and Chemistry courses. Nathan is excited to help students to determine how to make career fit as a part of a meaningful and fulfilling life and how best to pursue goals to achieve this.
Maddie Kindig
Assistant Director for Graduate Student Professional Success
She/Her/Hers
Maddie specializes in working with graduate students and postdocs in their career exploration and planning.
Maddie joined the Career Success team in October 2022 initially as a Career Coach. Now as the Assistant Director for Graduate Student Professional Success, Maddie looks forward to using her own background as a former Arts and Sciences graduate student to help other graduate students and postdoctoral researchers articulate their unique skills and empower them to explore career paths beyond the tenure track.
Maddie holds a B.A. in World Language Studies with a focus on German and history from Indiana University South Bend, an M.A. in Germanic Languages and Literature from The Ohio State University, and a certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Trinity College London. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and learning languages.
If you have a Disability and rely on a screen reader or the keyboard for access to your computer you will experience difficulty using this application. As the University works with Handshake to improve accessibility, please contact handshake@osu.edu for assistance in navigating and using this application. A member of our team will respond within 2 business days to assist you.