School of Business workshops help students prepare to get that first job

Kelly Cochran of Warren Averett LLC, right, interviews a School of Business student.

How do you write a resume? What should you wear to the interview? How should you answer that question? These topics and more were covered during the recent career development workshops presented for students by the School of Business.

"The main goal for having the workshops is to make our graduates better prepared for job interviews and competing with other potential applicants in the job market," said Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Associate Professor in the Department of Management. "We want our students to be knowledgeable on how to present themselves professionally to potential employers."

School of Business students were offered three development workshops to help them get a leg up on the competition when they begin their job searches – resume writing, professional dress and mock interviews.

Approximately 60 students took advantage of the resume workshop, which focused on teaching students how to create a professional resume, how to prepare for the job interview (the dos and don’ts), and how to properly thank a potential employer for an interview.

"It’s not just about what you know or who you know, it’s about what kind of impression you leave," said workshop participant Karlen McCree, a senior from Montgomery majoring in marketing with a concentration in hospitality.

Karlen McCree, right, helps model the proper attire for job interviews.

The next workshop showed students how to dress professionally and create a professional wardrobe without spending an enormous amount of money. Workshop experts also highlighted styles, color and accessory coordination, and some of the dos and don'ts of professional dress and business casual attire.

Now armed with effective resumes and impeccably attired, students were given the opportunity to participate in mock interviews with actual practitioners in the business world. Students had three interviews with three different practitioners, each interview lasting approximately 15 minutes. Each interviewer evaluated the students and provided feedback on all three phases of the process.

"I believe each workshop was a huge success," said Johnson. "The students showed a lot of interest in the workshops, and many have commented on the benefits of the workshops."

McCree was one of those students.

"These workshops provide the tools we need to leave that lasting impression early on so that when we graduate and are looking for a job, we have an advantage over our competition," he said.

The School of Business has offered the resume workshop for about five years. This year, the workshop was combined with the other two, both of which had been previously offered within the Department of Accounting and Finance. Moving forward, all of these annual workshops will continue to be open to all students in the School of Business.

"I am firm believer that you get better with practice and knowledge," Johnson said. "So, we are trying to give our students several opportunities to enhance these skills."

The School of Business wishes to thank Dillards, the Alabama Society of CPAs, ITAC and the many volunteers from the business community who conducted the mock interviews. The support of these community partners is invaluable and vital to the success of the workshops.

Sept. 4, 2012