The first time I saw the Centre for Career Planning and Counselling past Sir Syed Gate at Kashmir University, it looked official, and full of promise.

I imagined a lively space where students hustled between workshops, recruiters came and went, and everyone seemed to be one step closer to internships and jobs.

That was in 2019. Five years later, I know better.

For thousands of students, especially at the School of Law, the Career Centre’s presence is felt only in name.

I spent half a decade here and never once saw it make a difference to my career prospects. The Centre’s own website paints a very different picture: it claims to “empower youth by offering comprehensive career guidance, coaching for competitive examinations, skill development, and placement support.”

On paper, it reads like a lifeline. On the ground, it’s a ghost.

Between 2019 and 2025, the Centre claims to have facilitated placements for 317 students. Some offers were........

© Kashmir Observer