What if landing your dream job wasn’t just about earning a degree, but about mastering the modern job search from day one? On this episode of Career Can Do, host, Mary Ann Faremouth, speaks with Clare Brown, a passionate career and job placement services professional at Houston Community College (HCC), about how students can gain a competitive edge in today’s ever-evolving workforce.

Clare shares how HCC’s Career Services team meets students where they are, offering personalized guidance through in-person advising, digital tools like Career Hub, classroom visits, and peer-driven outreach. She stresses that career success isn’t just about academic achievement—it’s about translating education into opportunity. Too often, graduates emerge with theoretical knowledge but struggle with the real-world application of landing a job.

Clare explains that the hiring landscape has changed post-COVID, shifting from self-promotion to proving value—what can you do for an employer? By preparing students early, HCC gives them a critical advantage over those who wait until graduation to figure it all out. Clare passionately describes career services as the ultimate report card of a college. Students may love their classes and professors, but if they walk away without career prospects, they haven’t truly gained what they need. Helping students secure meaningful employment isn’t just a service—it’s a responsibility.

The impact goes beyond recent graduates, as HCC also supports professionals over 55 looking to re-enter the workforce and offers new bachelor’s degree programs to keep up with Houston’s job market demands. Clare’s biggest piece of advice for 2025? Don’t wait. The moment you step onto campus—or even before—engage with career services. The earlier you start, the stronger your chances of success.

Resources:

Clare Brown on Houston Community College | LinkedIn

Mary Ann Faremouth on the Web I X (Twitter)