We asked W. P. Carey Alumni: Why should students attend company information sessions?
Here’s are the reasons they shared:
- Network
- Discover New Opportunities
- Build a Personal Relationship
- Gain Name Recognition for Preferential Treatment
- Learn Valuable Company Insights
- Make Valuable Connections
- Determine if You Are a Fit for the Work Environment
Network
Networking is an invaluable skill in whatever career you pursue. You can walk away from a company info session with information about job and internship opportunities, but also with newly-formed professional relationships with like-minded individuals. So, attend company info sessions as often as you can. The professional relationships born at company info sessions may one day benefit you and your career in surprising ways.
Linda Scorzo, BS Finance ‘87, Hiring Indicators
Discover New Opportunities
By attending a company info session you may actually learn that a company you were not interested in at first may actually be a fit for you!
When I was graduating I was focused on becoming a pharmaceutical sales rep. When I couldn’t get an interview with my “Dream” company I ended up signing up with a company that was alphabetically next to them, assuming it was a “phone” company. It ended up being a semiconductor company and I did get a job with them and worked for 26 years there. Luckily I had coaching to learn more and research the firm before my first interview!
Michelle Tinsley, MBA ‘99, YellowBird Holdings Inc
Build a Personal Relationship
If a company cares enough to send a person (or a team) to recruit at your school, that means they see value in a relationship and are making an investment. As a participant, having the chance to talk to a real person who has actually worked there (and maybe also is a graduate of your school and/or program) is a fantastic way to get information directly from the source (beyond the “pitch” you receive in the presentation), and build a potential relationship of your own.
Nathan Deily, MBA ‘10, Nth Venture
Gain Name Recognition for Preferential Treatment
The biggest reason students should attend company info sessions is so that the hiring team will remember them when they begin reviewing resumes for positions. I will absolutely pay more attention to a student’s application if I meet them and remember a positive conversation with them. I will especially remember them if they asked hard probing questions about our company and what they will be doing in the role.
So attend those company information sessions, ask hard probative questions, and meet one-on-one afterward if you are able to before you apply. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” ~ Will Rogers
Marsh Sutherland, MBA ‘94, Ocient
Learn Valuable Company Insights
During these less formal information sessions, students can learn a great deal about a company. This is a perfect opportunity to find out what a company culture is like, specifics about open positions, and interview insights. These sessions are an ideal arena to ask questions that may be too detailed or informal to ask in an interview.
Dan Salus, BS Finance ‘07, Jogan Health
Make Valuable Connections
Getting a job requires that you network with others. Remember, it is not just about you and your degree. It’s also about who knows you and what you can contribute to a potential employer, Company Info Sessions are a great way to meet and connect with employees of companies you are interested in learning more about. It can also help in getting your resume noticed and perhaps, even snagging an interview.
Vincent Ferraro, MBA ’82, Adjunct Faculty and Marketing Consultant at SDSU
Determine if You Are a Fit for the Work Environment
There is a lot more to a new job than the salary or the new title. When considering a new position or your first position, several factors are very important to making the right choice.
You will want to make sure the salary, location, job duties, and industry are all aligned with your goals, skills, and interests. In addition, you will also want to make sure that the work environment is a good fit for you, and by far the best way to learn more about this is by meeting current employees. Large organizations may only treat you as a number and care about your performance metrics, smaller companies may not have the resources to effectively train & develop you professionally; these factors need to be considered instead of just focusing on the salary or the fancy new title. This will lead to a much more fulfilling career in the long run.
Derek Franklin, BS Marketing ‘20, Actalent
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