Purdue Alumni offers career coaching/counseling services
As a child, Maureen Huffer Landis spent a year living in the Middle East with her family.
It was a formative experience for Huffer Landis, then in sixth grade. As a young woman, she felt a call to help others “value different cultures and make positive world contributions.”
Today, that same passion still drives Huffer Landis’s work as the director of alumni career advancement at the Purdue Alumni Association.
“I am honored that people open themselves to the resources and insight that I can provide,” she shares. “For many people, it takes courage to seek assistance in their journeys, and I do not take this fact lightly.”
Ultimately, wherever her clients are, Huffer Landis finds there is a common thread uniting their experiences.
“All of these individuals want to find purposeful opportunities where they can be valued for the skills and experiences they bring,” she says. “They want to make meaningful contributions in areas that truly interest them.”
Starting Over in a New Career: No Magic Wand for the Job Search
When Joyce Lok (A’08) realized that she wasn’t in the right career, she turned to the Purdue Alumni Association. She’d never used a career coach before and wasn’t sure what to expect.
“My initial conversation with Maureen was to schedule our first official appointment,” says Lok. “We ended up talking about CliftonStrengths.”
Huffer Landis encouraged her to take advantage of the CliftonStrengths assessment, available through Purdue Alumni membership.
“I thought it might be interesting to find out what my strengths were — but I didn’t think it was going to significantly impact my career path,” says Lok. “Maureen helped me view them in relation to what I want to do in my next job.”
During her conversations with clients, Huffer Landis doesn’t tell people exactly what their next jobs should be. Instead, she encourages people to think more deeply about their strengths and values in a way that can better guide their searches.
“Career coaching and development focuses on individuals and where they are now and want to be in the future,” she says.
Lok appreciated Huffer Landis’s approach.
“She clearly understands jobseekers,” says Lok. “She listened and gave me specific advice on how to make the necessary changes for my career right now. Our conversations helped me identify what type of position I want in the next few years and how to work to achieve that goal.”
How Do I Get Started with Career Coaching/Counseling?
The Purdue Alumni Association’s career coaching/counseling services are available through CAREER MAX membership. After receiving a request for a session through the Alumni Portal, Huffer Landis sets up an hour — either over the phone or at the Dauch Alumni Center in West Lafayette — for the discussion.
“Prior to the meeting, I will review any materials that have been sent to me, such as a résumé, position descriptions, and CliftonStrengths survey reports,” says Huffer Landis. “These become part of our discussion.”
To make sure clients are empowered to move forward, Huffer Landis also shares useful resources.
“They are welcome to follow up with me, especially regarding how to best use the resources,” says Huffer Landis. “I’m happy to review their homework, such as completing CliftonStrengths or constructing a résumé.”
Join the Purdue Alumni Association
About Maureen Huffer Landis
Huffer Landis brings more than 25 years’ experience to help clients across a variety of settings — domestic and international undergraduates, alumni across all disciplines, management-oriented master’s programs, and executive programs.
“I have worked with recent graduates looking for their first positions, more seasoned alumni looking to advance in or change fields, alumni reentering the workforce after a break, and alumni headed into retirement.”
Previously, Huffer Landis taught Management 301 at Krannert and redesigned the course through the Purdue IMPACT program, moving the course to a more interactive mixed format of presentations, experiential activities, and student-focused engagement.