Tips and Tricks to Know for the Career Expo and Beyond from Tess White of the Career Center
Providence College’s Career Expo is right around the corner! On Wednesday, October 4, employers from across the country will gather in Peterson Recreation Center, eagerly anticipating the arrival of our talented student body. When preparing for the Career Expo and networking opportunities beyond, keep in mind these ten tips from Tess White, assistant director of the Chirico Career Center and undergraduate business career coach.
1. Utilize your free resources. Go to the career center in Slavin 108 for daily drop-ins, Monday-Friday from 1-4 p.m. or make a one-on-one appointment with a career coach on Handshake. The Chirico Career Center is here to help guide and support you in all things career!
2. Engage in as many informational interviews as you can. This is the easiest way to learn about different career paths and make meaningful, professional connections that you will be thankful you have when it comes time to applying for jobs. “When meeting with a professional, you always want to be curious, ask questions, and stay engaged in the conversation. The follow through is extremely important,” White said.
3. When an employer comes to campus, take advantage. Whether that be through the career center’s “Snacks with Students” Employer series, PCBiz Basics, or the Career Expo, use that face time to your advantage.
4. Get in the habit of connecting with professionals on LinkedIn right after you meet them. This is how you can quickly grow your network.
5. When you do get an internship, be the intern who proactively seeks out work and brings your ideas to the table.
6. Start honing on your interview skills as early as you can. Meet with a career coach and take advantage of virtual interviewing platforms available through the career center, such as VMock. Interviewing is a skill that takes practice.
7. Obtain technical certifications, especially ones that are free for you on campus such as Microsoft certifications in Excel and PowerPoint.
8. The more you engage with news content within your desired industry, the more desirable of a candidate you will be. When it comes time to interview, you will be knowledgeable about the trends, lingo and pertinent information within your desired field.
9. Always customize your resume and cover letter for the role you are applying for. In the world of artificial intelligence, this is imperative to stand out among competitors.
10. It is okay if you have no idea what you want to do for a career. You are most definitely not alone in that. Focus on meaningful experiences throughout your college career and know you have services available to you when you do need help.
The career coaches in the career center, like White, love to assist students in identifying and executing individualized game plans that increase the likelihood that their passions, their skills, and the market will intersect.
The best thing to do is to start reaching out to working professionals, starting with the 2,400 alumni who are members of FriarLink, PC’s online networking platform. “First and foremost, the biggest mistake that I see students and recent grads make is their avoidance of networking,” she said.
Still nervous about attending the Expo? The Career Center is hosting Expo Prep Week events from September 26-28, to help ease students’ nerves before the big day, such as the Dos and Don’ts of the Expo, Personal Branding, and Resume Reviews.
The Career Expo will be held Wednesday, October 4, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. in the Peterson Recreation Center.
