On Thursday, November 5, 2015, Green Lane Academic Building (GLAB) was rich with professionalism and business attire. The first ever Business Internship Fair was held on floor four from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a prior Kean University Alumni Career Panel discussion held on the sixth floor from 2:00p.m. to 3:30p.m.

The Kean University Alumni Career Panel served as an instructional guideline for students to become knowledgeable about all the assets available to them regarding the post-graduation job hunt, while effortlessly becoming inspired in the process. Along the panel, four of Kean University’s alumni were each covering one subject matter to further go into detail about. These four areas of focus comprised of social media, resumes, interview process and internships.

The resume discussion was first to be conversed, and led by Kean University alumna, Michelle Napoli. Napoli spelled out in great detail the “do’s and don’ts” of what should and should not be included. “Strong action words are best. Try to be dynamic and animated without going over the top” Napoli suggested.

She also exemplified this in further detail by stating, “instead of saying you were an effective sales manager, say something along the lines of you were an effective sales manager that increased sales by 50 percent in six months by implementing new sales techniques.” The discussion also consisted of stating the importance of a cover letter and including only the important and eye catching information, as well as addressing the cover letter to a specific person.

Another discussion, abundant in information, was about the prominence of social media, specifically linked-in. Tiffany Medina, Kean University alumna, marketing major with a dance minor, covered the topic. Medina communicated, “The resume is for a company to see who you are, but social media is a place for the company to see how you think.” Linked- in can add a creative layer to an individual and allows more freedom to professionally showcase work and make connections with others in the same field.

The Alumni Career Panel was very well showcased and left students feeling effortlessly inspired and motivated, as well as functioning as a constructive form of education for the fundamentals of the job hunt.

Following the panel, attendees were encouraged to head down to the fourth floor of the GLAB. Upon the fourth floor were major business companies including Fulcrum, BMW, Bed Bath & Beyond and more. The event was designed for visitants to freely walk around and speak to representatives of the large companies easily, while attempting to make lasting impressions and handing out resumes/ portfolios. Alexander Desrivieres, senior music education major, stated,” It really seems like the companies are focused on hiring Kean [University] students, and are all extremely helpful and eager to work.”

Kean University’s first Business Internship Fair successfully reinstated the confidence and ongoing motivation that students need to keep up their grades as well as extracurricular activities. As the semester grows long and students lose focus, events like this remind students that everything they are working so hard for will pay off eventually, and that is the real gem within the event.

 Kean University shakes hand with internship recruiter 
Michael Dumaine l The Cougar's Byte

For more information regarding events pertaining to the post-graduation job hunt go to career services in the Center for Academic Services.