Many students arrive on campus not knowing what they want to do after graduating, and most students don’t know the what, when, where, and how’s of the internship process. Joyce Hunter, Southeast Missouri State University experiential learning coordinator (or “internship guru,” as she likes to call it) eliminates that confusion for students everyday.
After graduating from Southeast in 1978 with a bachelor of science in business administration degree, double majoring in marketing management and psychology, Joyce experienced a little of everything in the marketing and public relations fields. She worked in banking for 13 years, advertising for three years, the newspaper business for five years, mall property management for seven years, regional retail for nearly three years and now at Southeast for almost three years. One wonders how she could excel in all these varied positions.
“The majority of the time I served in a marketing, public relations or advertising position. The discipline was the sameᾰjust the customer focus varied. Regardless of the audience, I was able to carry the core skills forward to each area,” Joyce said. “I seem to have a knack to build relationships and be able to understand and communicate with folks.”
This knack has led her to help countless Southeast students have a smooth transition from college to the work place, and her advice often enabled them to nab positions in their dream professions.
Joyce meets with students, employers, staff and faculty, and answers their questions concerning information about internships. She also oversees Southeast’s Career Linkages courses’, CL003 and CL004, online proficiency checks, assuring graduates can put together a well-composed resume and cover letter, as well as shares Career Linkages’ resources with students, faculty, staff and the community.
The time Joyce spends with students, helping them plan their futures, is invaluable to her, she says.
“My favorite moments come when I meet with a student, sit down, translate their experiences, skills and talents, and transfer them to a document that speaks for themᾰtheir resume. I am able to reflect their amazing abilities back to them, and they have the moment of insight to see what I see in them, and this part is truly a gift,” Joyce said. “One day they will realize the potential I got to see first.”
Joyce obviously has great faith in the students she advises, and she knows Southeast does all it can to prepare them for their life after college. She says she enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with them and hopes she helps them imagine what future they have ahead.
“When they go to accept the Oscar or Nobel Peace Prize, I hope they will remember the little dark haired lady who helped them find the path that was right for them,” Joyce jokes.
Her years of marketing and editing other people’s work seem to have taken their toll on her hobbies. While Joyce says she likes retail shopping, it’s not the type of shopping most people enjoy.
“I enjoy understanding the psychology of why they merchandise, design, lay out and measure to drive sales and generate revenue. I want to know the expense to sales ratio and how the sales per square foot compares to year ago as well as what is the best performing department or merchandise. I also enjoy finding a good bargain!” Joyce said.
It sounds like her shopping trip is a little more strategic and tedious than the average person’s.
Joyce also admits she critiques billboards along the highway and finds most are “too wordy, the graphics are too small or the positioning is wrong.”
Joyce is clearly anything but average. She enjoys reading, but she claims to often be immersed in several books at once. She also ran a marathon in Dublin, Ireland, in 2001.
Southeast students would be smart to follow her advice.
“Use the resources offered by Career Linkages. We’re here to assist with questions and launch students to their next step. The services are free.” Joyce said. “I hope students know I understand it sometimes takes courage to ask for help, but I admire those brave enough who come forward to ask. These are the folks who will be successful in life.”