More than 300 Cal State Long Beach students attended this year’s Meet the Industries Expo at the Queen Mary in downtown Long Beach Friday.
This year was the 36th annual Meet the Industries Expo, put on by the Associated Business Students Organization Council. The event was advertised to business students, but all students were welcomed to attend.
For only $15, students were exposed to more than 50 businesses and potential employers. They were also given a three-course lunch and could attend workshops on how to succeed in the business world. Students had the choice between workshops such as “from college to executive” and “how to win friends and influence people.”
Each workshop aimed to give advice not only about business, but also about maximizing your potential. Some speakers would tell students to show appreciation and to always buy thank-you cards, while others would tell them to stand out.
“The workshops are really helpful. They try to be really supportive and help you in your path,” said business major Ann Hoang.
Students also had the opportunity to ask speakers questions about their presentations. Professionals such as Vice President of Banco Popular Alvaro Castillo and the former Senior Vice President of Toyota Auto Body David Dedinsky gave their insights on how they became successful in an hour-long question-and-swer panel.
They told students what kind of information to put on a résumé as well as what kind of information to take off of their MySpace accounts. Castillo made a point to let students know that companies have access to online information and that they do indeed look at the MySpace of potential employees.
He also told students about Linkedin.com, which he called “MySpace for professionals.” The point was to stress the importance of paying attention to decisions made now that might affect one’s future.
Castillo brought the panel to an end by commenting that “luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation.”
The workshops were followed by an hour-long lunch, which included a presentation by keynote speaker Mick Ukleja, author of the book “Who Are You and What Do You Want.”
Ukleja is currently the president of a leadership consulting firm called LeadershipTraq. He is also chairman of the Governing Council for the Ukleja Center of Ethical Leadership at CSULB. Ukleja outlined his book by telling students how they could master their moods and manage their time better.
The luncheon also helped students begin the networking process that is needed in business. Each student had to sit at and assigned table during lunch and at each table was a representative from a different company. Representatives from companies such as Aramark sat with students and told them about their companies and the kinds of jobs they offered. It gave students a chance to ask employers questions in an informal setting.
After lunch was over, students were taken to the career expo where they could talk more employers. Companies had booths set up all around the room, and were eager to learn more about the students.
Prior to the event, students were required to turn in a résumé that would be handed out to all the companies in attendance. Some of the companies in attendance at the event were MTV Networks, Lakeshore Learning Materials, MindShare, Target, Wells Fargo and Staff Pro Incorporated.
