A full 360° toward the future: Career support for Medipol students and alumni

At the “Career 360° – A Full Turn Toward the Future” event organized by the Istanbul Medipol University Career Center, students were introduced to the career counseling, internship, and employment opportunities available to them, while the importance of starting their career journey early was emphasized. Held at the South Campus Conference Hall, the event opened with remarks by Assoc. Prof. Tuba Işık, Director of the Career Center. The program also featured Ceren Gökbudak, Deputy Director of the Career Center; Nur Sena Ünal, Senior Career Counseling Specialist; and Hüseyin Yiğit Özçelik, Assistant Corporate Communications Specialist as speakers.

ASSOC. PROF. IŞIK: THE CAREER JOURNEY IS A PROCESS OF DISCOVERING OURSELVES
Delivering the opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Tuba Işık spoke about the Career Center’s activities for students and alumni since 2019. Emphasizing that career planning is not simply about reaching a specific destination, Işık said, “A career journey is not so much about reaching a single destination as it is a process of discovering ourselves as we pass through different stages. Sometimes a training program, sometimes an internship, sometimes a person we meet, or even a small piece of advice can change the direction of our career.”
 

Işık provided information about the services offered by the Career Center, including CV preparation, interview preparation, career counseling, internship and employment guidance, company visits, career fairs, and the Alumni Information System. She also discussed the Center’s work on its digital infrastructure, noting that they aim to reach 75,000 alumni.

Regarding the opportunities offered by the Alumni Information System, Işık said, “We are a university that has made it our mission to continue supporting our students even after they graduate. Through the Alumni Information System, you will be informed about employment opportunities, benefit from discounts at our hospitals with your digital alumni card, and enjoy easier access to the campus.”
 

GÖKBUDAK: WE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES THAT CONNECT STUDENTS WITH INDUSTRY
Ceren Gökbudak, Deputy Director of the Career Center, spoke about the Center’s initiatives that bring students together with industry. Providing information on technical company visits, internship referrals, mock interviews, CV training, and career fairs, Gökbudak emphasized the importance of students engaging with the professional world at an early stage.

Noting that the Career Fair brings together more than 100 companies, Gökbudak said, “This means students have the opportunity to network for internships and employment and submit their CVs.”

ÜNAL: WE MAP OUT A CAREER PATH TOGETHER WITH STUDENTS
Nur Sena Ünal, Senior Career Counseling Specialist, explained the Career Counseling, CV Counseling, and Interview Counseling services available to students from their first year through graduation.

Noting that students can receive support regarding their academic program and career choices, Ünal said, “You may be considering changing your academic program, or you may not know which fields you can work in with the degree you are pursuing. We work together with you to map out a path forward.”

Ünal stated that appointments for career counseling can be made through the website and announced that applications for the Career Ambassador Program will remain open until October 14. Ünal said, “If you want to gain experience of the professional world before graduating, take an active role in projects, and engage in mentoring, you should become a Career Ambassador.”
 

ÖZÇELİK SHARES HIS JOURNEY FROM CAREER AMBASSADOR TO ASSISTANT SPECIALIST
Sharing his career journey from a student perspective, Hüseyin Yiğit Özçelik, Assistant Corporate Communications Specialist, explained how the path that began with the Career Ambassador Program led to an internship and subsequently to his current position as an Assistant Corporate Communications Specialist.

Highlighting the opportunities the Career Ambassador Program offers students, Özçelik said, “Taking part in the Career Ambassador Program gives you a better chance of securing internship opportunities later on. The more actively involved you are, the greater your chances become.”