Local businesses participating in Wingate University’s Career Week

Career Week will kick off on Monday, March 20, with a graduate school fair and a session about internships and other difference-making experiences that students can pursue to make the most of their college years.

On March 21, students can attend a session about personal branding and networking led by Junior Nyemb, a Wingate alum and founder of the Grio Agency. On the following day, they’ll hear from alumni on a Welcome to the Future panel and get to put their networking skills to work at an alumni/faculty mixer.

The week will end with mock interviews on March 23, followed by an etiquette dinner.

“For the first time, we’re inviting interviewers from outside organizations, which will make these interviews even more realistic and therefore better practice,” Biggerstaff said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to introduce our students to professionals from area companies and also to introduce those professionals to our talented students. It’s a win-win situation.”

Companies who are sending representatives to help with the mock interviews include Broad River Retail, Union Power Cooperative, Insperity, Sherwin Williams, Q Works Group, Girls on the Run International, Windsor Windows and Doors, Novant Health, Truist and Ally.

Four more organizations — Greiner Bio-One, Union County, True Homes and Union County Public Schools — will interact with students the following week at Look Local, an event designed to highlight the opportunities that students have to find work in Wingate’s back yard.

“At the March 28 event, students will rotate between listening sessions to hear from each of these organizations,” Biggerstaff said. “The sessions will provide an opportunity for the organizations to introduce themselves, explain what services and products they provide, their work culture and company values and what positions are available. It will also be a time for students to introduce themselves, ask questions and share their resumes.”

After the sessions, students will be able to attend a networking mixer, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

To help get students ready for the week, Career Services offered workshops in advance on how to draft and polish a resume. Also, students were encouraged to clean up their social media accounts, assess their professional wardrobes and seek help from the University’s new Career Closet if needed.

“The idea was to get these elements in place so that students could come into Career Week feeling prepared and already having a level of confidence,” Biggerstaff said. “Then, after Career Week, they can take their new professional skills and freshly polished resumes to Look Local, where they can network and apply for jobs.”