Department staff spotlight: Career Center liaison Jessica O’Neill

By Emily Wilmot

Florida State University’s Career Center is an excellent resource for students across campus to help build their post-graduation future. One of the tools English majors have in their toolbelt is the opportunity to meet with Jessica O’Neill, the career liaison for humanities majors in the College of Arts and Sciences.

O’Neill is a knowledgeable on-campus asset for helping you achieve your career goals. She can guide you toward the various resources provided at the career center or talk you through the decisions and processes that set you up for success.

“I will say, liaisons are the best use of the Career Center,” says O’Neill, who also is an assistant director for the center. “They are an integral part of our mission and what we do. Although, even beyond the liaisons, everyone at the center is hands-on and willing to help students.”

If you are unfamiliar with the Career Center, the offices are in the Dunlap Success Center, located on Woodward Avenue, sitting near The Globe and the Health and Wellness Center.

The staff provides career advice and a headshot photo booth. Their career counselors are available to review your application documents, such as resumés and personal statements, among other materials. The career center also regularly hosts events and workshops, all aimed at getting students job ready.

For English majors, however, O’Neill is more “local.” Her department liaison office has been located on the fourth floor of the Williams Building in Room 459 since Dec. 1, 2023, shortly after she was hired at the Career Center.

“I came across the job opportunity on LinkedIn, and ironically, everything I advise students on, I already went through that process,” O’Neill says. “Many of the tips that I offer are based on my own experience.”

O’Neill says her favorite part of engaging with students is reviewing their personal statements.

“A resumé, that’s one snapshot, but that personal statement allows me to learn more about the student,” O’Neill says. “To be able to understand why they are so interested in going to another program or pursuing a Ph.D. is something I love going through and helping them to shape. As we are talking through it, I am learning more about what is important to them, and I find that beautiful.”

O’Neill’s own classroom experience in higher education began when she earned her associate’s degree from Northwest Florida State College, followed by her bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of West Florida. During her time in college, she didn’t have access to a career center, but she found guidance from those around her.

“I originally pursued a business degree, and then I went through accounting, and I decided business was not for me,” O’Neill says. “I later started in a federal work-study focused on student life at Northwest Florida State College. Through that process, my mentor and now-friend and I talked through what working in higher education looked like, and I decided to go from there.”

While earning her bachelor’s degree, O’Neill started in the role of campus engagement specialist. She also was an admissions counselor at Pensacola State College after graduation from NFSC. Both experiences helped her with the transition from a state college to a state university.

“There was a period where I was getting used to the terminology, but the mission was still the same: student success and being there for students and making sure they succeed in whatever they choose to do,” O’Neill says.

 

I love working with Jessica, and I consider her not just a colleague but a friend. We are lucky to have her on-site in the Williams Building three days a week, and she brings a great energy to our advising suite.

— Hannah Beth-Ragland,                senior academic program specialist for the English department

Career Center liaisons at FSU are given extensive training as well, ensuring the advisors students are relying on provide them with the best advice.

“That’s one of the things that I immediately fell in love with,” O’Neill says. “I am a hands-on learner, and I liked having the opportunity to do shadowing and reverse shadowing. They make sure they take the time with you to make sure you understand the position completely.”

Such training strengthens O’Neill’s belief that the Career Center staff are an excellent resource for students. Additionally, without ever entering the doors of the building, the center’s website hosts starter materials students can use to start improving job skills and enhanching documents.

“I love the Resume Writing Guide,” O’Neill says, giving an example from the website. “The guide is easy to read and truly walks you through the process from start to end, even if a student wanted to create a resumé on their own, without a liaison. We’re always there to support them along the way, though.”

The building on Woodward Avenue offers numerous resources as well, including the Professional Clothing Closet, where students can grab four items per semester.

“You do not have to return the clothes; they are free,” O’Neill says. “You can pretty much build your whole professional wardrobe before you graduate. If you follow the closet on Instagram, you can find out about special events, some where students have been able to get up to 10 items for free.”

In addition to the work she does with students, O’Neill also enjoys connecting with her campus colleagues, as they helped her feel comfortable after her move to Tallahassee.

“They are so supportive,” O’Neill says. She is currently working on her Master of Science in higher education administration, so even she gets advice and feedback on her assignments. “To be able to come to work and tap into and utilize each other, even as a resource, is nice.”

Hannah Beth-Ragland, senior academic program specialist for the Department of English, holds similar sentiments.

“I love working with Jessica, and I consider her not just a colleague but a friend,” Ragland says. “As soon as she started, I knew she would be a wonderful member of our team. We are lucky to have her on-site in the Williams Building three days a week; she brings a great energy to our advising suite.”

Ragland says O’Neill’s success in the multifaceted career liaison position is reflected in O’Neill’s abilities to balance the range of responsibilities.

“Her weeks are always packed between meetings with students, classroom presentations, committee meetings, and much more,” Ragland says. “She offers career services to two colleges, and a huge number of majors, which requires her to stay up to date on career trends in a wide variety of fields. I am always impressed by her ability to manage all the different pieces of her role.”

O’Neill’s hope for the future is to see her and her colleagues advise even more students toward success in their careers.

“That is a part of an ongoing conversation among Career Center staff,” she says. “How do we make sure that students know we are a resource they can utilize? We need to make sure we continue the mission and help students understand we’re here to support them.”

If you are looking for a way to contact O’Neill, you can find her office location, hours, and email on the Career Center website.

“If students are ever unsure if I am available, they can send me an email—I try my best to get back to students as soon as possible,” O’Neill says. “Also, visit the Career Center. Whether they want to come see me as their liaison or just go straight to the Career Center, they can utilize either resource.”

Whether students are looking for help improving their resumé, a personal statement, or looking to practice interview skills, O’Neill is a great resource for advice on how to prepare for the post-graduation world.

Emily Wilmot graduated from FSU in the spring of 2025 with her bachelor's degree in English-Editing, Writing, and Media and a minor in economics. She currently is in her first year as a graduate student in the University of Wyoming's Department of English.

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