In this episode of FEDtalk, host Jason Briefel interviews Helene Bumbalo, the Associate Director of Graduate Professional Development at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Business, about career counseling in 2024. Helene shares her unconventional career path and emphasizes the importance of staying flexible and open to new opportunities. She discusses the diverse student population at VCU and the unique challenges they face in navigating the job market. Helene also highlights the changing landscape of job applications, with the increasing use of artificial intelligence and the need for proactive networking before applying. She explores the differences between pursuing opportunities in the public and private sectors and shares innovative approaches to connecting students with federal agencies. She emphasizes the importance of bringing real-life professionals into the classroom to expose students to different career paths. Bumbalo also highlights the value of programs like the Federal Advisor Certificate Program, which prepares career counselors to help students navigate the federal hiring process. She encourages hiring managers to reach out to career programs and utilize alumni connections to find talent. Bumbalo advises job seekers to seek help from career counselors and utilize resources like LinkedIn to navigate the changing employment landscape.