The Online Reflector

Career Services, along with Chef Dan Phillips, transformed the dining hall for a Little Italy Night event on Jan. 23 so students could informally get to know the Career Service staff.

Sophomore business administration and communication major Emily Darr interns with Career Services.

“Every year, we have Little Italy Night. We pair up with Chef  Dan, and he fixes his awesome meals that he always makes,” she said. “It’s just a way for Career Services to sit down with students, in an informal setting, if they have questions about resumes, internships, job fairs, searching for jobs and things like that.”

Little Italy Night included a disc jockey. Paper and markers were placed on every table, with questions such as “What do you want to do when you grow up?” and “Where are you going after college, and how will you get there?”

Assistant Director of Career Services Libby Davis, who has worked at UIndy for 19 years, manages the student employment program.

“The point of this [questions on the tables] was to get students in that reflecting mode, that mode of  ‘I have this major, how am I going to apply the knowledge and the education?’” Davis said.

Davis was also interested in using open-ended questions to make students at Little Italy Night think about their futures.

“We just wanted to find out what everyone’s plan is. We just wanted to get feedback from the students.  It was a little way for them to express themselves,” Davis said. “It’s important for students to reflect on their interests and on career options.”

Career Services also helps conduct practice interviews and establishes shadowing opportunities.

Although Little Italy Night is only held annually, Career Services holds L/P credit seminars on resume building, as well as other events, such as the upcoming professional image etiquette dinner taking place in March.

Tools such as Sigi3 can be used by UIndy students as a way to clarify career and academic options. Sigi3 is available through the Career Services channel on MyUIndy and helps students explore different career possibilities.

Davis explained that networking is a vital part of getting connected in the job world.

“I encourage students to take advantage of every opportunity to network,” she said.

Career Services is located in Schwitzer 206, and it offers help to all students on campus, whether students are deciding on a major or looking for internships.

“You can walk in or call in and make an appointment with any of the advisors. They’re more than willing to help you with resumes or job searching,” Darr said. “They’ll help you with anything.”