Ohio University expands career support services for all online graduate students through Randstad RiseSmart

In a strategic move designed to further empower online graduate students and help them achieve their personal career goals, Ohio University is increasing the reach of its Graduate Career Acceleration Team (GradCAT) program – an expansion that will make the program accessible to online graduate students across over 40 diverse graduate degree programs.

GradCAT, a first-of-its-kind partnership with career mobility solutions provider Randstad RiseSmart, provides OHIO Online graduate students with unique access to three dedicated experts, including a personal career coach, an expert resume writer and a career concierge.

Best of all, each expert is specifically selected to ensure their overall background and expertise align with a participating student’s area of study and career goals.

“The desire to improve one’s lifetime career opportunities is often the top reason why students choose to pursue a graduate education at OHIO,” said Vice Provost for OHIO Online Kari Lehman. “Through GradCAT and our partnership with Randstad RiseSmart we can provide students with personalized support at every stage of their career journey and equip them with the tools and confidence needed to achieve their professional goals.”

In addition to expert coaching, GradCAT also includes lifetime annual career coaching sessions and access to RiseSmart’s Spotlight technology platform, which offers job search resources, job opportunities, personal assessments and webinars. All tools and resources are available online 24/7, while coaching takes place via video or phone, providing students with convenient anytime, anywhere access to their coaches and job-search resources.

To date, OHIO students who have engaged in the program have expressed a satisfaction rate of 95 percent or higher.

Ohio University’s GradCAT program was originally piloted in 2021 within the University’s College of Business; Associate Director for Career Management and Engagement with OHIO Online Elizabeth Guarino noted that the program’s recent expansion underscores Ohio University's recognition of the unique challenges online students face in navigating today’s job market.

“The ways in which our online graduate students are seeking and gaining professional opportunities is evolving, and OHIO is equally adapting to help set a new standard for comprehensive career support in the online learning landscape,” Guarino said.

OHIO Online graduate students become eligible for the GradCAT program during the last semester of their program, and they will receive a personalized email as soon as their eligibility window begins.

Additional details about all of the Career Services offerings available through OHIO Online, including the GradCAT program, are available online. To learn more, schedule an online appointment with Associate Director for Career Management and Engagement with OHIO Online Elizabeth Guarino.