College is a time to find your passion and pursue a career. However, as many of us have been told or maybe even know first-hand, the hardest thing to do after graduating is getting your foot in the door. With so much competition in the professional world, the ability to gain an edge is nevermore important. But how? Well, luckily, there are many opportunities at our university to grow professionally and network with industry professionals. I am going to highlight some of those opportunities here, and explain how you, too, can get involved and begin your own networking.
Career Intensive Boot Camp (Juniors & Seniors)
This boot camp focuses on a lot of the nuances that come with job hunting and working for a company. During the weekend, students will be walked through how to prepare a proper resume and nail a job interview. Bloomsburg University alumni will be present and partaking in the boot camp, giving the students a chance to network. These alumni will also be representing their businesses, and may even be looking for young talent.
Confer Radio Talent Institute (MassComm & Marketing majors)
The Confer Radio Talent Institute is part of the National Radio Talent System, which aims to help young people break into the broadcasting field. I actually attended the institute this summer and it was well worth the sacrifice of giving up 10 days of my summer. Each day, I was able to listen to and meet with industry professionals. The institute actually held two live radio shows on site, and I was able to see, in-person, how radio personalities conduct their show. We also took a trip to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and met Rob Brooks (Phillies’ Director of Broadcasting), Marc Zumoff (76ers’ Play-By-Play Announcer), and Dan Baker (CBP Public Address Announcer).
Ziegler Institute of Professional Development (Business majors)
The Ziegler Institute of Professional Development (ZIPD) is a valuable tool for our university’s business majors. Unlike the other professional development aids on this list, ZIPD is a mandatory pass/fail “course” for all business majors each semester. ZIPD holds dozens of sessions over the course of a semester and business majors earn “ZIPD points” by attending these sessions. The sessions are typically panels of business professionals who shed light on their experiences and offer advice to our students. There is a required number of points needed to pass each semester, but it’s pretty easy and the hassle of earning these points is nothing compared to some of the valuable lessons you can take away from it.
Internships
By far one of the best ways to network and land a job in your field after graduation is through internships. This refers back to my point about getting your foot in the door; internships can accomplish this for you. Though internships are typically low-level positions, you will still have ample opportunity to showcase what you can bring to a company. Many students are often offered full-time positions by the very companies they interned for. Be sure to talk to your academic advisor to see what companies are in need of interns. Then absorb everything you can once there.
There is plenty of opportunity to grow your resume and develop your professional skills, while at Bloom. If you continue to show initiative, get involved, and absorb what you can, you will put yourself in a good spot to find that elusive full-time job after graduation.