Kait Christensen | News Co-Editor
This semester, Career Services has several new events to help students as they continue to grow and prepare for life after college. Director of Career Services Carol Lytle and Assistant Director of Career Services Cindy Cone are both very excited for their full spring semester.
On Monday this week, students were allowed to come to Resumania in the Career Services office. Students worked on their resumes to perfect it as internships and job options come closer to their schedules. February may be close to an end, but there will be teacher mock interviews coming on Feb 27.
In March, there will be a few more events coming up through Career Services. On the fourth, fall student teachers must have their resumes approved. March 5 will be the spring “The Art of Reception and Etiquette Dinner.” Career Services is presenting the dinner differently this year by having a fall and spring event. The Art of Reception and Etiquette Dinner is also now combined, which has been different in years past.
“Students should definitely take advantage of the formal reception and dining opportunity on March 5. They need to sign up in Career Services and will be able to choose where they want to sit – first come first serve. Ask anyone who’s graduated how important these social skills are to their career success – they are an essential life skill. As a matter of fact, students who attend the reception/etiquette dinner will get them ready to shine at the Career Connect events which follow,” Lytle said.
Also in March, there will be some Career Connect activities, which will help students with internships and possibly future jobs.
Cindy Cone explained all of the events that will be taking place with Career Connect. On March 7, there will be a Career Connect event in Dows from 4:00-6:00 p.m. This event will target the Business and Science majors. On March 12, there will be another event in Dows from 4:00-6:00 p.m. for Communication, Media, and Education majors. The next day, March 13, there will be a Career Connect for Exercise Science Majors, which will feature the Minnesota Vikings Athletic trainer. This will take place in the Field House from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Hall of Fame room. March 13 will also feature an event targeting Technology majors in Dows, also from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
An Career Connect that will be tied in with the 100th Anniversary of Buenafication Day will take place on April 18. This Career Connect will focus on volunteer experiences and non-profit organizations.
Cone explained how this would be set-up. She said there would be a panel of adults, where each one would talk for two minutes. After this, there would be time for students to ask questions. Then, the students could meet the Career Connect representative in another room over beverages.
“Career Connect is bringing 55+ employers to campus – the most ever in the past 12 years that I’ve been here. What’s really great about it is its informal format. Yes, students have to dress up, and they should also bring their resume if they are seriously looking for a job or internship, but the employers will introduce themselves first, to break the ice, you might say,” Lytle said.
Lytle continued on to explain that after introductions, everyone will meet up together with refreshments. She continues to stress how important of an event this is for students to take part in.
“Networking still is, and will probably always be, the number one way people get jobs, so this should be a ‘must do’ event for all students, including freshmen/sophomores who will be smart to start their networking now and learn what employers are looking for,” Lytle said.
Along with the many Career Connect opportunities, there are a few more events taking place in April. These will be seminars. Cone explained that this is specified for sophomores and juniors that are interested in attending graduate school. On April 3, there will be a seminar called “Making the Decision.” Along with this, there will be a seminar on April 10 entitled “The Application Process.” On April 17, there will be graduate school interviews.
“Approximately 23-24% of our students go directly on to graduate or professional school from BV. The workshops in April…are intended to help with making this very important career decision and then knowing the ropes of applying,” Lytle said. She also explained that there will be Buena Vista University (BVU) faculty coming to these events.
“Everything we do here has one goal: to help ALL students prepare for a successful and satisfying future after BVU!” Lytle said.
Photo by Aaron Burns
