The OCE: A Land of Endless Opportunity
The Office of Career Education (OCE) at Arcadia is here to make sure that students are planning for a career and future beyond graduation. It provides endless resources for learning, opportunities for success (like internships and networking), and events that help students navigate the professional world. These events can be specialized, like a virtual seminar on sales, or more broad, like interviewing tips for fresh graduates. Some are in person on campus, some are at other schools and universities, and some are online for ease of access.
Being a college student can sometimes feel all-encompassing. We are so focused on our studies at the moment, making sure that we are succeeding in our classes, that we often lose sight of the future. The OCE has an incredible array of events and resources for those who might not have a solid career plan just yet. But the amount is sometimes daunting, and it’s tricky to find an event that is right for you. I have a pretty solid three-step evaluation process for events that has worked for me so far and focuses on how to make the most of an OCE event. Use this link for the list of upcoming events that are sponsored or recommended by the OCE.
The first step is interest and relevancy. If you are an art student, why would you attend a sports management event? Try to find an event that suits your interests and your post-grad needs. For example, as a communications student with interest in marketing and advertising, I plan on attending a sales and marketing virtual seminar to assess my skills and see what sort of position might work best for me. These events do not necessarily have to be related to your exact major, but it is important to make sure that they are relevant to your plans and goals for after college. There are titles for each event and also little blurbs that can help you decide what might be the right fit for you.
The next thing to consider is purely housekeeping: Is this event accessible to you? Do you have class during the time it is offered? Is it at another campus and do you have a ride there? On the OCE launchpad website, dates and times are listed directly underneath the title. This will help you see if the event is available during a time that you can attend. There are also some that will give you a location, such as Chestnut Hill College, or our very own Arcadia. My advice for this is to prioritize ease and ability. I usually attend the virtual seminars, as it is easiest for me as a non-driving student. I like to pick events that are on my easy days so that I do not feel overwhelmed. Since there are 10+ events a day, this is not exactly difficult. Just know your schedule, working ability, and willingness to attend before you begin looking at events.
Lastly, think of your goals and projected results. Go into these events, meetings, and seminars with a general idea of what you hope to gain or accomplish from attending them. Take notes, be present, and ask questions if you have the chance to. Simply attending an event for a grade or just to go will not benefit you in the end. Make sure that you digest what information is given to you by the professionals in your career and apply it to your schoolwork and future plans. I like to go in with a notebook, a few questions either in mind or written down, and a communicative and positive attitude. Remember, events can also be networking opportunities! Be ready to engage and present yourself in a professional manner. These events are fun, but are also incredible chances for you to learn, consume information, and apply them to your future.
Happy networking, Knights!
