Editor’s note: Career coaching access for alumni is made possible through generous donors who support the Alumni Impact Fund.

Guiding Routes

For NC State alumni, graduation doesn’t mark the end of career support — in fact, for most, it’s just the beginning.

Barbara Efird, a career coach with NC State, has built her profession around helping Wolfpack alumni navigate career changes, job searches and professional growth long after they leave campus. Efird works with graduates at every stage: recent alumni seeking a first job, mid-career professionals pivoting into new industries and retirees pursuing second or third careers.

For Maddison Smith ’18, career coaching came at the right time. “I was honestly kind of lost. I had gotten so far away from my major and what I thought I wanted to do with my career,” said Smith, who discovered new tools and resources after working with Efird.

“From the moment they graduate, and for as long as they need us, alumni have access to one-on-one virtual career counseling and job search coaching,” Efird said. That includes résumé reviews, interview preparation, networking strategies, access to NC State’s e-Pack system and invitations to on-campus career fairs.

These services are made available through the Alumni Impact Fund and the generous support of alumni and friends who give to that fund to make a difference.

While current students connect with career services through their colleges or programs, alumni counseling is broader and more flexible. “The only difference is that these appointments are virtual and open to all colleges and majors at NC State — not tied to a specific department,” Efird said.

Efird said the work is most rewarding when alumni return to share their successes. “It’s incredibly meaningful when someone tells me that the strategies and recommendations we discussed helped them land a new position,” she said. “As an NC State graduate myself, it’s an honor to support my fellow Wolfpack.”

“As an NC State graduate myself, it’s an honor to support my fellow Wolfpack.”

From Layoff to a New Career Lane

For alumnus Robert Rousseau, NC State’s career services came at a turning point. After three months of unemployment, he attended the Computer Science Senior Design Center’s 30th anniversary event. There, he met Jane Matthews of Graduate Career Services, who introduced him to Efird.

“The timing couldn’t have been better,” Rousseau said. “Barbara initially asked the question every job seeker has to be ready for — ‘Tell me about yourself.’ From there, the conversation just flowed. She’s got her finger on the pulse of industries, and she gave me insights I’d never considered.”

Through career coaching sessions, Rousseau learned how applicant tracking systems work and how to optimize his résumé and LinkedIn profile. Efird also provided a job-tracking worksheet and resources to structure the search.

“Her sessions really helped me build my confidence back up to leverage my personal network,” Rousseau said. “I ended up getting a referral from an old high school friend, which directly led to my new job. Along the way, I practiced interview questions and used the STAR [Situation, Task, Action, Results] method to frame my stories. That preparation made all the difference.”

Rousseau now passes along the same advice: keep moving forward and lean on connections. “Leverage your network, get job referrals and show up at in-person networking sessions,” he said. “Like Coach Jimmy V[alvano] said, ‘Don’t give up … don’t ever give up!’”

Shifting Gears Toward New Opportunities

Smith’s pathway to working with Efird was a little different.

After nearly six years with the same company, she grew unsettled about her role and the company’s future. “I just needed to talk to someone and understand what career options were available,” she said.

That someone was Efird. Smith described Efird as “very warm and welcoming,” making their first meeting feel more like a conversation than a counseling session.

“Barbara listened to me and gave really practical suggestions, like how to rework my résumé for applicant tracking systems, how to better use LinkedIn and even how to expand my network,” Smith said. “I walked away with tools I hadn’t even known existed.”

When Smith’s company later closed, she scheduled another session. This time, Efird helped refine interview strategies, offered sample questions and tracking tools, and encouraged her to keep pushing through rejection. Soon after, Smith landed a new role at iTradeNetwork, a supply chain management platform.

Looking back, Smith said the biggest takeaway was about mindset. “Don’t get down on yourself, and don’t let your pride get in the way of asking for help,” Smith said. “Every once in a while, you’ll find someone who genuinely wants to help you — and that can make all the difference.”

“Every once in a while, you’ll find someone who genuinely wants to help you — and that can make all the difference.”

The Alumni Impact Fund

NC State’s Alumni Impact Fund supports opportunities like these and elevates the university’s global reputation. Gifts to the Alumni Impact Fund open doors across NC State, ensuring the Think and Do spirit can be applied to improve alumni communities. From supporting student initiatives that shape future leaders to fostering career resources that enable alumni to excel, to regional activities for alumni and friends, generosity helps the entire Wolfpack keep driving.