Michelle Lim, Journal Staff
Every fall, the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education organizes Career Week, a two-week–long series of events and workshops tailored to provide the Suffolk community with access to professionals and employers through career awareness and job search help.
This year has a schedule of 20 events including workshops and speakers.
According to Paul Tanklefsky, director of Career Services and Coorporative Education, last year’s Career Week saw its largest attendance with over 200 students for keynote speaker Johnny Earle, CEO of Johnny Cupcakes.
“Career Week is an opportunity for Suffolk University to focus on the career aspirations of our students,” said Tanklefsky at yesterday’s keynote event, a presentation by social media expert Dan Schawbel on establishing personal brands with employers. “Our hope is that you walk away from these two weeks with enhanced career goals.”
Whether a freshman just getting started or a senior anxious about finding a job after graduation, Career Week assures there is something for everyone. Beginning with “Choosing a Major,” the schedule leads to the majors/minors expo on October 27 where academic advisors will give students pointers on different majors.
“Effective Event Networking” provided students with effective strategies for networking at large gatherings, receptions and events. The seminar was intended preparation for the “Sawyer Business School Networking Night for Finance, ISOM, and Global Business Majors,” scheduled for November 1, where students will meet with alumni and professionals in their field of interest.
A new event this year requires faculty participation. On October 31, professors in the College of Arts & Sciences and the Sawyer Business School will share their stories in their respective vocations. This program was implemented into Career Week, considering professors are some of the most accessible resources students have. Engaging faculty, Career Services believes, can influence and help students choose professions and solidify their choices.
There are also experiential learning events like the professional dining etiquette meal on October 28. Not only will students enjoy a three-course meal, but they will gain the dining skills needed to make an impression at a business lunch or dinner.
Career Week goes beyond corporate careers, with events like “Graduate School Options” (November 1) for those interested in higher education following graduation. Benevolence is a theme with “Careers Making a Difference” on November 3. Representatives from organizations like Teach America, AmeriCorps, Campus Compact, and the Peace Corps will discuss options in how to opt for participation in a year of service.
While these two weeks are centered around careers, the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education urges students to know that the resources of Career Services—although particularly highlighted over the course of Career Week—always remain open to students and apply to them year-round.
