Students learn tips for the professional world at Career Expo Prep Night

By Ryan, February 12, 2016

By Anne Davey // Opinion Editor

On Feb. 2, High Point University’s Office of Career and Professional Development held its first ever Career Expo Prep Night. The event was hosted in Cottrell Hall, home to the Entrepreneurship and Sale’s Centers, and the Career and Professional Development Office, which all participated in the event. The well-attended event drew students from all academic years and disciplines in an effort to better prepare students to succeed at the Career and Internship Expo on Feb. 17 in Slane Student Center.
Clubs and organizations from across campus participated to make the event both meaningful and successful, specifically those with an emphasis on professional development and success skills. The Sales Club, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and members of HPU’s Greek Life all came out to man stations, encourage students and participate in the prep night. Working alongside the staff from the Career Office, students put on a first of its kind event.
HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development actively used student feedback from previous career fairs in order to plan the event. The office routinely solicits feedback and suggestions from both students and the employers to ensure the success of future career fairs and to make the experience as meaningful as possible.
After the Career Fair held in the fall, some feedback from employers, professors and students indicated that some students seemed unprepared in important areas; how to dress, what questions to ask, what to have on hand for employers and other small things that can make a difference as far as first impressions and level of professionalism go.
The Career Expo Prep Night was a result of this feedback and the work of the student employees in the Career Office, known as Peer Career Advisors. These students work with the office to help them best serve HPU’s student body; their services are both volunteer and paid, and include helping students develop professional resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Last week, the PCA’s put on the office’s first ever student-run event.
The event featured several stations designed to better prepare students for the upcoming Career Fair, slated for Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Slane Student Center.
Stations at the event included a LinkedIn photo opportunity, a resume review station and a dress for success tip center. The Career Expo Prep Night also provided guided opportunities to download the Career Fair App: HPU CFPlus, elevator pitch practice, how to hold a professional conversation and what questions you should ask employers.
Students that attended the Career Expo Prep Night and visited all of the required stations were entered into a drawing to win gift certificates from local restaurants like Feeney’s and Southern Roots and also had the chance to win HPU gear like a rolling suitcase and note cards.
Employers attending next week’s Career Fair are likely to be impressed with the finely honed skills of HPU students after the successful Career Expo Prep Night. Representatives from a range of companies, schools, health care providers and recruiting firms are going to be in attendance. Representatives from Bassett Furniture, Durham Police Department, Insight Global, AXA Advisors Inc., and many more are scheduled to attend.
HPU’s strong emphasis on professional development was on display at the Career Expo Prep Night, ensuring that at the upcoming Career Fair, students will be well prepared to land internships and full-time positions with the companies in attendance.