Ben Bruno, a second-year MBA student in Kelley Direct, the online branch of Indiana University–Bloomington‘s business school, has changed jobs twice in the past few years. It was the online program’s career services, he says, that helped him ensure he was taking the right path.

Based in Nashville, the client resolution specialist at the global financial services firm UBS chatted with career counselors over the phone, email and LinkedIn as he transitioned from jobs in consumer products to retail banking to wealth management.

“They really helped me figure out what types of jobs would be a good fit for me,” the 30-year-old says. Upon his graduation in June, he hopes to pursue a higher-up role at UBS.

Career services in online programs play an integral role in shaping students’ overall experiences, experts say, especially as career prep continues to be the primary motivator for turning to distance learning in the first place.

[Understand how online degrees can help adults switch careers.]

About three-quarters of online students pursue further education to change career paths, earn a promotion or keep their skills up to date, according to a 2015 report released by Aslanian Market Research and the Learning House.

“Whether its practice interviewing, resume review, job leads, social media profile reviews or even just discussions about your search and how you can network better — all of that can help you as a professional as you’re focused on completing your degree,” says Jennifer Lasater, vice president of employer and career services at the for-profit Kaplan University, which offers online and campus-based programs.

However, career services offered in different online programs can vary, experts say, and students should consider whether they will have the same or similar opportunities as they would have on a traditional campus. Students who plan to make use of career services at online institutions should ensure they have the following features.

— One-on-one time with online career counselors: Opportunities for one-on-one time are key, says Kyle Whitehouse, assistant director of learner services at Oregon State University‘s Ecampus. She connects with students through different means, whether it’s phone, Skype, WebEx or email.

“In general, we have live ‘face-to-face’ conversations, if not phone conversations, that replicate the in-person conversation for career counseling,” Whitehouse says.

Jennifer Mendoza, a student in OSU Ecampus’ postbaccalaureate online computer science program, says one-on-one interaction with Whitehouse has been the most helpful service for her and ultimately helped her land an internship.

[Discover job search tips for online students.]

“She took the time to speak with me once a week, and really go through my resume with me line by line and my cover letter line by line” through email as well, Mendoza says.

— Opportunities for virtual career fairs and networking with employers: Career services in many online programs allow students to participate in virtual career fairs — an excellent opportunity to network with potential employers, experts say.

For example, during virtual career fairs held for students at MPA@UNC, the online M aster of P ublic A dministration program at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, employers speak with several students at once in an online chat room to discuss their company and possible opportunities. They can then break out into chatrooms with individual students as desired, says Heather Duhart, MPA@UNC’s academic and career services director.

Meanwhile, Kaplan University holds “employer spotlights” that are broadcast to the student body, and employers then take questions from career services staff and students, Lasater says. These sessions are recorded and archived.

— Chances to network with other students and alumni: It’s vital that online students are able to connect with alumni as well as current online students, as many of them are working professionals, Duhart says.

For example, at Kaplan, students and graduates have access to a social platform to interact with each other and career services staff, as well as complete work interest assessments and update their employment status, among other features.

[Learn networking tips for online MBA students.]

Duhart, of MPA@UNC, says communicating with alumni can help current students figure out possible career trajectories. She says students should be able to say to themselves, “Okay, this person came through this program and then they went on to do these things, and does that look like a path I might want to take?”

— Access to both synchronous and asynchronous webinars, lectures and events: Career services with opportunities to take part in live webinars or lectures are beneficial to students, Whitehouse says, as is an archive with access to previously recorded events.

“They’re recording it, maybe they’re streaming it, but even better, it’s archived in a clear place where people can watch that entire presentation on demand when they’re ready,” Whitehouse says.

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Evaluate Career Services in an Online Education Program originally appeared on usnews.com