FROM STUDENTS:
“Mark was an amazing coach as I prepared to enter the ‘real world’. There were ups and downs throughout the process but Mark was always there encouraging, asking great questions, lending an ear, being positive and offering new ways/ideas to approach the job hunt. He really was instrumental in my efforts to land a job in the pharma/biotech industry.” (Geoff T.)
“I have known Mark since I was freshman. I had spoken with him many times about my career goals and he identified an awesome opportunity for me. He then helped me to develop my resume and interviewing skills. I landed an amazing internship and I could not have done it without his help! Mark’s obvious love of his work and his good sense of humor make him fun and easy to work with. I am thankful for everything he has done for me.” (Brooke C.)
"From my initial encounter with Mark, he was professional, knowledgeable, and truly invested in my career success. He offered sound advice and advocated on my behalf to potential employers concerning my qualifications and expertise. It was a long journey. At times I grew frustrated and discouraged yet he remained positive. He knew how to refocus my mindset. If I had not worked with Mark, I don’t know how I would have landed my new career." (Loriea K.)
“I am so grateful for all the positive feedback and encouragement that you've given me over the past few years. Not only are you a wonderful career counselor you are a WONDERFUL person too! I am forever grateful that we've crossed paths. I think you're just the right person to reshape career counseling. That industry needs an overhaul and you're the CATALYST in making it happen!” (Sonya C.)
"Mark is a wonderful advisor! Mark made those muddy waters of job searching a lot clearer. He is very knowledgeable about networking, interviewing, and following up on interviews. He offered me advice on networking and how to talk to people who were more experienced than me. And when that interview was coming up, Mark would be sure to speak with me prior to give me tips and build my confidence so I was ready for it. What can I say but thanks Mark for all the support, guidance, advice, tips, and care!" (Jonathan G.)
"My family has known Mark and his family for about 10 years or so. When I graduated college 5 years ago, Mark assisted me in creating a resume, a job search strategy and developing interviewing skills that helped me land a job with Morgan Stanley in NY. Though I was employed with a company many would like to work for, I ultimately found that it was not the right fit for me. When COVID hit, I decided to make a career change after a couple of years there."
"I became focused on sports management and the idea of enrolling in a Master’s program in that field. Mark helped me with my application essay and references. But more importantly Mark guided me in reality testing and validating that goal and plan before enrolling. He connected me with subject matter experts in sports marketing. He also helped open my eyes to other career interest and options I had."
"From what I learned I decided to change direction and pursue public administration and I just recently landed a job with a large state health care organization."
"I will always be grateful for Mark’s assistance and support. I recommend him highly as a career counselor and coach." (Andy R.)
"I've gotten career guidance from Mark for several years, while I was in college and still to this day. He has taken a tremendous interest in my career and professional development. He periodically sends me info and articles that he knows can be helpful to me. Mark both challenges me to aim high and helps bolster my confidence. It has been great to have him in my corner." (Matt S.)
"When COVID broke out I came home to spend some time with my mother. While I was home I decided to apply to graduate school."
"Mark helped me create a really good admission essay, many times better than the one I started with. He also helped me draft a professional resume to submit with my application. He was awesome to work with."
"I am thrilled that I have been admitted to my first-choice graduate program and I am very grateful for Marks’ help." (Eva P.)
FROM PROFESSIONALS:
"Mark is highly knowledgeable about career preparation and career readiness. He consistently demonstrates an unwavering commitment to student success. He is skilled in developing relationships with employers which has been instrumental in forging partnerships that opened doors for students to pursue internship and career opportunities within major corporations across the US. This combined with Mark's understanding of labor market demands and student career readiness allow him to provide coaching that positions each individual for success in achieving their career goals." (Rose Will - Former Career Services Supervisor)
"I worked for nearly 50 years in higher ed strategic and marketing development and research. Mark and I first met while collaborating around student career development software he developed called C2C Advantage."
"Mark has impressed me as a creative and forward-thinking professional. He is not satisfied with status quo approaches in higher education but seeks evidence-based effectiveness through innovation. I’d say Mark is an innovation leader who is deeply committed to student career development and college to career readiness and success (Richard T. Hezel, Founder, Hezel Associates: Research Evaluation Strategy)
“Mark always amazes me with his creativeness – coming up with new ways of doing things. He also has excellent counseling skills and is excited to work with students and alumni who have challenging backgrounds or issues and need assistance in developing effective strategies.” (Linda McGraw - Former Career Services Supervisor)
“I have known Mark for over 20 years and consider him to be one of my most respected colleagues in the career development field.” ( John Bradac - Former Dean and Career Services Director)
“One of Mark’s strengths is to constantly take a fresh look at something to make major improvements that none of us could have imagined. He will undoubtedly design a transformative, student/learner focused center that will serve as a model for the rest of us. That is simply what Mark does.” (Gary Morris - Career Services Director)
“Mark is extremely professional. His work ethic, professionalism, and commitment to success are evident in everything he does on a day to day basis.” (Kevin Wilson - Former Software Business Development Supervisor)
BIO
Mark Schappert has over 20 years of experience assisting college students with their career development and working closely with a wide range of employers who hire college graduates.
Mark has worked with thousands of students and employers who hire college graduates. Below are some of the better-known employers Mark has worked with and where students he assisted went to work.
Mark earned an M.S. in Counseling Services and has completed coursework and training in counseling theory and practice, student career development, career assessment administration, consultation, appraisals and online instructional practices. He has completed countless trainings in subject matter related to career counseling, job search strategies, networking, interviewing, student success, resumes, cover letters, marketing and much more.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers; Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers; Society for Human Resource Management; National Career Development Association; and college Career Collective are some of the many professional associations that Mark has participated in, presented at and learned from.
Possessing a passion for student career development and a great deal of initiative and creativity, Mark developed a career exploration program with human resource representatives for high school students called “Career Guides”. He also developed an award-winning career planning software program for college students called “C2C Advantage”.
In addition to extensive work in college settings, Mark worked for an educational technology company, helping to shape and bring to market a system to track college graduate employment outcomes. In the last decade Mark put his personal career management knowledge to work making his own career and employment transitions twice as a “seasoned” professional.
Mark’s great joys in addition to helping students discern and pursue successful and meaningful careers, are his adult son, a wonderful wife, two amazing rescue dogs, and a great pack of family and friends.