Meet Ellen Burti, Assistant Vice President for Career Services

Ellen Burti ’83C, ’87GEd is a double alumna of St. John’s University, having earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and her Master of Science degree in Adolescent Education. She has more than 30 years of experience in career development, higher education, and teaching. She began her career at St. John’s in the Department of Career Services in 1983. Most recently, Ms. Burti served as the Director of the Office of Career Preparation and Professional Development at St. Joseph’s College (now St. Joseph’s University) and returned to St. John’s in 2021. 

What attracted you here as a student? 

I was born and raised in New York City, in the Rockaways, and I’m the youngest of three. St. John’s was sort of where you went if you were from New York City, especially since I attended a Catholic high school. When I was in high school, very few people applied to college in large numbers as they do today. Family members had attended St. John’s, Catholic education was very important in our family, and my mom was a huge college basketball fan, so it became an obvious choice for me. 

Tell us about your student experience at St. John’s. 

I was a commuter student, as there were no residence halls then. I was very interested in horses and science, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with that combination. I assumed if you liked science and biology, you would become a doctor or work in the medical field. I learned quickly that medicine was not the route for me; our Environmental Science program was growing, so I thought it would complement my love of horses with science. I briefly considered becoming a park ranger and imagined spending the day on horseback.

Fast-forward a few years, and as graduation was looming, I still had no idea what I would do postgraduation, and stumbled upon a one-credit career development course. Its main attraction was that it was one credit. During the course, I became very interested in assessments and the psychology behind career choice. 

Toward the end of the semester, we did résumé reviews and I was asked if I had plans after graduation. I still really wasn’t sure. I was invited to the Career Center, and learned about an opportunity that would allow me to work there while earning my master’s degree. I interviewed with several people, and the next thing I knew I was working in the Career Center. That’s how I ended up in career services.

What are some of your short- and long-term goals for University Career Services?

My goal is to have University Career Services serve as a resource for every student to help guide them throughout their time at St. John’s, whether it’s having a conversation with someone or taking an assessment that helps them say, “This is what I like, this is what I’m good at,” and this is how it connects with something outside of the academic world. My overarching goal is 100 percent engagement with Career Services—that every single student has some interaction with us and feels supported in shaping their career path.

One way to get there is to integrate career education into the students’ academic life. Technology allows us to do that without interrupting what’s happening in the classroom. While we continue to do presentations in class, this takes valuable class time. Now, we can offer students career education modules, faculty can share within Canvas, opportunities like Forage (workplace simulations), and access to micro-internships (through organizations such as Parker Dewey).  

What is your biggest challenge? 

One of the biggest challenges is raising awareness among students and parents about the importance of internships, volunteering, and research in securing a job after college. Many students focus purely on academic studies and achieving high grades. While this is important, grade point average is not the differentiating factor it was in the past. 

If two students are applying for a position, and one has a 3.5, with internships, research, or volunteering on their résumé, and another has a 4.0 without experience, the 3.5 student is much better positioned to succeed. The 3.5 student has shown grit, responsibility, and successful academics. It’s one of the things we work on—to amplify this need in all our work with students, and when possible, with parents.

What are some of the tools that University Career Services offers students?

Our primary platform is Handshake, which is used at more than 800 colleges and universities in the US. I think of it as a triangle between students, Career Services, and employers, where all those important connections are made. Students can make appointments, sign up for events and workshops, and apply for internships and jobs. It’s like a mini-LinkedIn.

We also use Big Interview, which allows students to have a simulated interview before a real one and provides a résumé review feature. Both features in Big Interview utilize AI, allowing students to experience how AI functions in the recruitment space before completing actual applications. 

We also offer Parker Dewey, a micro-internship site where students can apply for short-term internships, which are projects that can last from a week to several weeks, or a month in duration, and Forage, which offers workplace simulations. Both provide opportunities to explore, build skills, and gain experience in areas of interest while being flexible and accessible options.

What career advice do you have for students?

Get experience. Get an internship or some relevant experience. That experience will be different for each student. A Biology major who plans to attend medical school might not seek a traditional internship. Instead, they could work for a medical transcription company, like iScribe, and work alongside medical professionals and experience the medical environment. They can also gain exposure through shadowing medical professionals.. Research is also an excellent option for graduate school or professional program students.

What are some hot career fields you see right now, and how does St. John’s prepare students for success in those areas? 

Health care is constantly growing, and the St. Vincent Health Sciences Center demonstrates  our commitment to that industry. St. John’s has always been highly regarded for their health-care programs, whether it be the Pharmacy or Physician Assistant programs, and the new Nursing program is well on its way to becoming another area of excellence within the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 

Education is an area where there’s a good deal of need. In New York City and nationwide, we see teachers retiring or leaving the field. 

Technology is infused into everything, so if you’re a technology student, or a Cyber Security Systems major, you don’t have to work for Google or a technology company. You can work anywhere because it has infiltrated every segment of our world. 

We see a growing need for Accounting, which can be a foundational area of study for any business area , and The Peter J. Tobin College of Business is well known for its accounting program. Most importantly, when choosing a major area of study, do what you like and what you are good at. Those elements will lead you to success.

What’s the most gratifying part of your job? 

I’m not advising as much as I used to, but I think I do this to witness a student’s “aha moment,” or take them through a process that leads them to an understanding of their place in the world and the impact they want to have. Working with first-generation college students who may not know how to navigate the college to career process is extremely gratifying. 

We want to meet all students “early and often.” This can be through our many events, programs, or 24/7 resources, ensuring they feel confident and supported throughout their college career and beyond.