CWU Career Counselor: Bruce Simpson

My name is Bruce Simpson, and I work as a career counselor and employer outreach liaison at the CWU-Ellensburg campus.  I have worked in higher education since 1995, and I served as a US Air Force officer (active duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard) for over 30 years.  I completed a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in recreation administration from the University of Northern Colorado, and teacher certification courses from Central Washington University.  Additionally, I am an adjunct professor at CWU, teaching professional development courses. 

I serve all CWU students and alumni via in-person or virtual appointments using a strengths-based approach in a variety of areas. 

  • Career counseling
    • Understanding and embracing your strengths
    • Choosing an academic major that fits your strengths
    • Learning about internship, job, and overall career field opportunities related to your strengths
  • Document reviews
    • Improving your resume, cover letter, and professional portfolio to best reflect your strengths
    • Translating your life experiences in ways that are oriented toward what employers are seeking
    • Learning how to create concise yet impactful statements about your abilities  
  • Job interview preparation (my favorite)
    • Improving your speaking skills (reducing filler words)
    • Becoming comfortable talking about quality examples of your strengths
    • Understanding how genuine story telling builds trust and how trust leads to getting hired

A fair amount of my work revolves around the College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS) which includes the following areas of study:

  • Aviation
  • Child Development and Family Science
  • Clinical Physiology
  • Construction Management
  • Dance
  • Education (all future teachers)
  • EMS Paramedicine
  • Engineering Technology
  • Exercise Science
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Food Science and Nutrition
  • Information Technology Management
  • Military Officer Training (Army and Air Force)
  • Public Health
  • Safety and Health Management
  • Sport Management

I spend extra time building faculty and employer connections related to this college as well as helping CEPS student clubs with professional development opportunities.  Although I often focus on CEPS, I also work with all CWU students on a regular basis.

I truly enjoy helping students find meaningful career paths that take advantage of their strengths and interests.  I also love connecting students with alumni and career mentors that have valuable advice to share.  Networking is an underappreciated factor in any career quest, so it is important to meet people in the career fields that interest you. 

Please feel free to contact me through email, bruce.simpson@cwu.edu, or feel free to make an in-person or virtual appointment using this link.

I look forward to connecting with you.

By Bruce Simpson
Bruce Simpson Career Counselor, Employer Relations Liaison
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