March 03, 2021
Brittany Previte
Conference-style event Career-A-Palooza will focus on individual identity and values in the job search
Alumni presenters from Career-A-Palooza 2020. Clockwise from top left: Sydney Gardner '18, Bryan Bertola '02, Katie McCann '03, Martino Moore '99
The week of March 15th-19th, students and alumni are invited to tune in to virtual presentations as part of Career-A-Palooza, a conference-style event for developing career-planning skills.
Alumni and other professionals will lead virtual sessions covering a variety of topics throughout the week that provide the opportunity to obtain tangible next steps and advice for a job or internship search, graduate school applications, and planning for after graduation.
“We want this event to be relatable to students of all majors and provide skill development during a crucial time,” said Colleen Monks, Director for the Career Advancement Center (CAC). “Sessions will be casual, and we encourage participants to bring their questions for discussion. Students can also win great prizes by filling out a raffle entry during sessions they attend!”
This year all sessions of the event will incorporate concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the job search. “Our opening keynote session will discuss the topic of identity and conscious job seeking in career planning,” Monks said.
“Conscious job seeking” was recently defined as searching for employment that aligns with one’s vision, mission, values and goals in an article by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
“Students often wonder how they can bring their authentic self to the job or graduate school search and find organizations who practice—and prioritize—diversity, equity, inclusion, and allyship,” Monks said. “We want to empower students in their search and help them explore how their identities can be celebrated in their career planning.”
Beyond the keynote, the other sessions will keep this theme a central focus. “We are committed to continue to provide programming that works to promote equity in career development for our students,” Monks said. In the past year, the CAC developed a DEI commitment statement and formed small research groups to create sustainable change, which include hearing from students in focus groups, researching industry trends in DEI, and assessing engagement and post-graduate data.
“Career-A-Palooza sessions will provide the opportunity for students to reflect on how to tell their story, find a path that is right for them, and stand out as a candidate to accomplish their goals,” Monks said. “We are incredibly excited for the lineup of sessions and we hope Foresters will come away with new insights from this experience.”
Event Information
Students should register on Handshake and alumni and parents can register using the links below. All sessions are one hour.
The Lineup
Monday, March 15
Tuesday, March 16
Wednesday, March 17
- 4:30p.m. CT Top Recruit: Navigating the Recruiting Process and Getting Hired
- 7p.m. CT From Undecided to Unstoppable: Defining Your Unique Path to Career Success
Thursday, March 18
Friday, March 19
- 10a.m. CT How to Write a Liberal Arts and Sciences Personal Statement
- 12p.m. CT Closing Q&A