The Pamplin Career Services team recently held its inaugural Career Launch Student Symposium at the Inn at Virginia Tech, bringing together 15 companies, over 100 students, as well as faculty and staff. The goal of the event was to give students early access to career resources and industry connections, helping them kick start both the Fall semester and their job search.

“The Pamplin Career Services team continues to create programs that support students' professional development and offer opportunities to network with future employers,” said Michelle Seref, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Pamplin. “I’m particularly impressed with the success of the Career Launch Symposium, which provided students with an industry-focused conference to explore various career paths related to their majors.”

The symposium opened with a session guiding students through the career exploration process. This session addressed common questions such as how to identify relevant opportunities, discover career passions, and connect with recruiters. Pamplin Career Services shared strategies for leveraging resources to set students up for success.

Students then participated in breakout sessions on specific topics. The Pamplin Career Services team led discussions on resumes, networking, and LinkedIn. Employer-led sessions explored a wide range of industries, including sports & media, cybersecurity, hospitality, manufacturing & product development, consulting, accounting, healthcare, human resources, real estate research, tech & data, investment management, and sales.

“I am thrilled with the success of our first Career Launch Student Symposium,” said Jennifer Tortora, Director of Career Services & Employer Relations for Pamplin. “This conference-style event offered a blend of professional development, career exploration, and networking with industry professionals, giving Pamplin students a great head start on their career journey for the 2024-2025 academic year. The event highlighted our commitment to integrating employers and industry experts into our career development strategy, ensuring our students are well-prepared for success.”