Southwestern University 2020 Annual Report

9 In January 2020, Southwestern University’s award-winning Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) hosted the first annual Skills, Opportunities, Action, and Results (SOAR) Summit. The conference-style event introduced sophomores to lifelong career-management skills, such as effective self-marketing in resumes and interviews. It also assisted students in expanding their professional networks by connecting them with nationally renowned industry experts and Southwestern alumni mentors. SOAR’s keynote speakers included We and Me Inc. cofounder Chad Littlefield, etiquette expert Diane Gottsman P’21, digital marketing expert John Grimshaw, and former NFL coach Daron K. Roberts. Their talks focused on topics ranging from building a professional network and using proper dining etiquette to marketing yourself successfully and achieving your career dreams. The unique event provided students the opportunity to engage in professional development in a fun and interactive group setting. Moreover, because the summit was held outside the academic year, students were able to focus solely on their career development for two full days. One key focus of SOAR was helping sophomores search for and secure internships. The summit’s 52 participants walked away from the event with a polished and targeted resume, a search plan, an elevator pitch, and networking connections so they could start seeking internships immediately. SOAR organizers promoted internships because research has shown that completing an internship—and especially multiple internships—is the most important factor affecting students’ ability to find employment after graduation. A few years ago, for example, a CCPD student team member used statistical-analysis software and recent postgraduate survey data to examine whether certain student activities or characteristics such as GPA and major correlated with finding a full-time job within a year of graduation. Having completed an internship was the only thing that showed significant correlation, confirming the importance of the CCPD’s efforts in helping Southwestern students land and succeed in these experiences. SOARing to New Heights