The Office of Career Services and Scholars for Business Achievement will be hosting “Night of Networking.” Taking place Wednesday, April 8 from 6–9 p.m. in the Wilden Atrium, it allows students to interact and exchange information with potential employers.
Company representatives will talk about their organizations and give internship/job descriptions. It is required that students dress business professional and bring a copy of their resume and questions for the employers.
The following companies and corporations will be attending the event: America’s Christian Credit Union, Target, World Vision, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, AFLAC, Anschutz Entertainment Group, Bolton & Co., Cornerstone On Demand, Double Tree Hotel, The Walt Disney Company, Edward Jones, Kaiser Permanente, My Job Credit, Ready Pac and Starbucks.
Cristie Granillo is the graduate assistant in the Office of Career Services and one of the coordinators who worked alongside Jennifer Law, another graduate assistant in the office, to plan the event. Granillo believes it is a privilege to have such an opportunity available on APU’s campus. The purpose of this event is to bring various companies and corporations together for students, not only to help networking, but give valuable information about their company.
Information about job and internship opportunities may also be discussed with the companies upon students inquiry for working with a certain business.
“We took into consideration the networks we have already established relationships with, and made some new ones particularly for this event. What this means for students is they have the chance to meet 15 different employers in one given location,” Granillo said.
Granillo gave a breakdown of how the event works. Once students arrive, they will take part in the registration process, which is where they will receive three name tags and choose the top three employers they’d like to sit alongside. This part of the event is first come, first served, since there is limited seating at each employer’s table.
Granillo suggests students should have eight employers in mind as a backup in case their top choices get filled up. There will be three rounds in which students can sit and talk with three different employers for 20 minutes each.
“This gives students a chance to spend 20 minutes networking with three different employers, and we are anticipating at least 1-2 representatives from each of the employers participating in this year’s event,” Granillo said.
After the three rounds are over, students will have the last 30-45 minutes for “open networking.”
Something Granillo mentioned that is new this year is the digital resume book, which will be provided by the Office of Career Services.
“We are also compiling a digital resume book for employers. When students provide their resumes at the time of registration, our office will review each resume and respond with feedback,” Granillo said. “Once revisions have been made and the resume meets a specific standard for this event, their resume will be added to the digital book. This is a unique opportunity that has not been provided in the past.”
Junior marketing major Spencer Iskikian, the former vice president of the business club Scholars for Business Achievement (SBA), and current employer relations intern for Career Services, believes this event is a great opportunity for all students, and he plans to attend.
“I will be attending. Apart from work, I would attend as a student, regardless. Even though I do have a job, I believe you can never network enough in business, and I think all of the companies that will be there are fantastic companies, so I would like to further my contacts and branch out,” Iskikian said.
Students are required to register online and submit a resume in order to be approved by Career Services. Business majors did receive priority registration, which began March 16 through 18, but after that the floor opened to anyone, including undergraduates, graduates and alums. Space is limited to about 70 students.