Ashley Vanderpool

About Ashley Vanderpool

Dedicated professional with a passion for connecting talent with opportunity and fostering meaningful relationships between organizations and individuals. With over eight years of experience in project management and business relationship development, I have specialized in employer relations and recruitment strategies within higher education sectors.Currently, I lead a Career Services department, where I oversee all aspects of employer engagement and career development initiatives. My responsibilities include managing the college\'s presence on Handshake, a leading career management platform, through which I curate and promote job and internship opportunities to students, alumni, and the broader community.An integral part of my role involves orchestrating biannual career/job fairs, where I facilitate interactions between students and employers, ensuring a seamless exchange of opportunities. As the primary liaison between the college and prospective employers, I cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national organizations, facilitating partnerships and internship opportunities for students.In addition to organizing networking events and career fairs, I conduct mock interviews and provide tailored career counseling to equip students with essential skills for the job market. My involvement in professional organizations such as the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) underscores my commitment to staying abreast of industry trends and best practices in career development and employer relations.Driven by a genuine desire to empower individuals in their career journeys, I am adept at leveraging technology and data analytics to optimize recruitment processes and enhance career planning services. My comprehensive understanding of applicant tracking systems (ATS) and online job search engines enables me to effectively guide individuals through every stage of the hiring process.With a proven track record of success in building strategic partnerships and expanding employment opportunities, I am passionate about leveraging my expertise to drive organizational growth and facilitate mutually beneficial connections in the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition and career development.

Experience

1. Career Services Director

   Ashland Community And Technical College

   Aug 2021 — Present · Ashland, KY

   Manages the career services operation to ensure efficient, timely, and effective programs and services to its users.• Develops, plans, coordinates, and conducts all college networking events, including campus career/job fairs, that prepare students for employment and provide employment opportunities.• Serves as the primary liaison between the college, its students and alumni, and potential employers on a Local, regional, state, and national scale. • Develops strong, ongoing relationships with area employers while ensuring ongoing communication/partnership with nationwide professional contacts in both the college/university and employment sectors.• Represents the college in various professional organizations: serves a role in various professional organizations including, but not limited to, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and those regional affiliates which provide broad opportunities for job development activities.• Develops new contacts with external organizations for the purpose of expanding employment opportunities and work-based learning activities for students and alumni.• Oversees various career development activities including professional workshops and campus wide mock interviews while demonstrated an up-to-date knowledge of the hiring steps including resumes, interview skills, job applications, online job search engines, and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). • Maintains, posts, and distributes information concerning full and part-time job opportunities through interdepartmental communications, social media, job boards, and online job search engines including Handshake. • Oversees a campus-wide internship program; implements and incorporates virtual application processes and online documentation procedures. • Prepares regular reports, and collects and analyzes research data relevant to the career planning and placement of students and alumni.

Education

• Morehead State University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

  2012 — 2015

• Marshall University

  Master of Arts degree

  2016 — 2018