CRAIG PICKETT, JR.

Founder and CEO

Craig Pickett, Jr. serves as the Founder and CEO of Pickett Career Consulting. A native of Charlotte, NC, Craig graduated from Davidson College in 2008 with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science.  During his junior year of college, Craig accepted a position as a Career Development Intern within the Career Services Center, where he was tasked with assisting walk-ins with resumes and cover letters.  He soon realized how he could serve as a catalyst for professional development by empowering individuals and providing them with all of the necessary resources for future success.  After discovering a passion for student development and higher education administration, Craig went on to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 2010 with his Masters of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education.  While in graduate school, he served as the Career and Student Services Associate within the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at The University of Pittsburgh.  In this role, he connected masters and doctoral students with governmental internships and employment opportunities across the world, including the CIA, FBI, The State Department, and The White House. Furthermore, he provided one-on-one and group-based sessions on professional development topics including federal resumes, cover letters, internships, fellowship programs, and post-graduate options.

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Soon after graduation, he accepted a position at The University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), where he served as the Career Counselor for Career Development. In this capacity, he conducted counseling appointments for undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni each semester and administered career assessments for personal exploration and professional development, including the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (Nationally Certified), the Strong Interest Inventory and the Harrington O’Shea Career Decision Maker.  Throughout his time at UNCG, he helped thousands of students secure internship opportunities, part-time positions, and full-time jobs in numerous fields and sectors including public/governmental affairs, nursing, business and STEM.  Furthermore, he facilitated over 100 workshops on a wide range of professional development topics including resumes, cover letters, networking, career planning, the internship search process, job-search process, employment opportunities for veterans and employment opportunities for ex-felons. 

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He transitioned to Knoxville, TN in 2013, after accepting a position within the Herbert College of Agriculture at The University of Tennessee. In this capacity, he was charged with overseeing all diversity programming for the college, including promoting career development and professional success for underrepresented populations. To accomplish this feat, he served as the office liaison for numerous STEM-based grants, research initiatives, and career development programming aimed at the success of underrepresented populations.  After serving in his role for several years, he transitioned to the Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society, where he currently serves as the National Executive Director. In this capacity, he oversees an academic and philanthropic scholastic organization that has inducted over 100,000 college students since its inception.  He manages all aspects of the national organization and travels to colleges and universities across America in an effort to empower individuals to achieve their highest levels of academic, personal, and professional success. 

Craig is currently earning his PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, with his dissertation and ongoing research focusing on the lived experiences of second-year African-American male students at public universities. In his free time, he serves as an active member of his community and works tirelessly to promote youth development, social justice, and college access. He currently serves as a Board Member for Girl Talk, Inc. and an Advisory Council Member for the Knoxville Area Urban League, National Achievers Scholars Program.  For almost 15 years, Craig has worked to connect individuals with their academic, personal, and professional ambitions. His passion for learning and career development pushes him to serve as an advocate for anyone in need. His purpose is simple – to connect individuals with the necessary tools and resources to achieve success. He looks forward to serving as a catalyst for your professional goals!