Office of Career Success Holds Career Success Conference
Career Success
The annual Career Success Conference offers networking opportunities and professional advice for students. Image courtesy of the UT Tyler website
By ELAINA GONZALEZ/Opinion Editor
Photos by CORNELIOUS FIELDS/Staff Photographer
UT Tyler’s annual Career Success Conference aims to connect students with a diverse array of professionals who share their experiences, ideas and successes. The event provides students with networking opportunities and promotes successful professionalization after college.
Held Oct. 20, it included four sessions and 230 speakers. Speakers offered insights into their careers and the professional world.
A common theme was the ability to learn and grow over time.
LIFETIME LEARNING
“You have to be a lifetime learner,” Brenda Haire, an author, speaker and consultant at Joy of Pursuit, told attendees in one session.
She said learning one skill and sticking to it is not a good strategy in the changing world of science, culture and technology.
Jobs and career fields change, so professionals should “follow where it leads,” she advised.
Madelyn Watts, a global customer experience process analyst at Mouser Electronics, highlighted the importance of the ability to “be flexible” and “take feedback” from employers.
Caroline, a nursing major who took part, said the most important part of the Career Success Conference is “learning about [her] specialty.”
Other students agreed, saying that learning from career experts is a big advantage. Elanie, business major, said that “getting to learn real business knowledge” from those with experience is extremely valuable.
TREAT PEOPLE WELL
Market President, Chief Revenue & Content Officer Carleen Dark-Bays of Townsquare Media emphasized the importance of treating people well.
“Never burn bridges,” she advised, saying that personal connections tend to last over a person’s entire career.
“Be nice to people,” agreed Allison Pollan, the director of communications at UT Health East Texas.
“Just listen to people,” she said. “Meet them where they’re at.”
Speakers at the Career Success Conference emphasized that “people skills” make up a large portion of jobs — even those that are more technical in nature.
Veronica, chemistry major, said “making connections” was a highlight of the event. Moxie, accounting major, agreed that “learning a lot of different things in one place” was very useful to her as she spoke with professionals from different fields.
LEARN FROM MISTAKES
Several speakers highlighted the importance of learning from failures and persevering within the workplace.
Jeff Johnson, director of operations at Public Radio for East Texas 99.7 KVUT, discussed the inevitability of rejection from higher-ups within any field.
“A ‘no’ is almost never about you,” he assured attendees. “You cannot take it personally.”
Dark-Bays said hardships are not only natural, but necessary.
“What builds your greatness is the adversities you have to overcome,” she said.
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