2013 Student Information - St. Louis Interview Days
The Donald L. Harrison College of Business, Southeast Missouri State University, will be holding its annual St. Louis Interview/Networking Days on September 26-27, 2013. Check us out on Facebook for photos of previous events and the latest information. The event will be held at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza, 7730 Bonhomme Avenue, St. Louis. The general format will be similar to previous years. A reception is scheduled for Thursday evening from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., and interviews are scheduled for Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Interview/Networking Days provide an opportunity for St. Louis-area employers to interview Southeast business students for entry-level positions and/or internships, and provdes a chance to meet and network with potential employers. Many of these companies return every year as they have come to expect outstanding students eager to make their mark in the business world. Typically 350-400 interviews are conducted at this event which results in a significant number of job placements. However, interviews are not guaranteed. Students are selected by companies for interviews based on their resume. Selling yourself through your résumé is crucial to securing that interview.
This is not a career fair; actual interviews are scheduled with company representatives. Companies typically can only interview 10-15 students in the available time slots, so make your resume a top priority--your prospects for future jobs could depend on it. Many of the alumni at the reception on Thursday evening will be former Southeast students who secured their jobs as a result of participating in St. Louis Interview Days.
The Thursday evening reception provides an opportunity for students and employers to meet informally and network. Each year several students are able to obtain additional interviews during this time. Note: Some companies use this as a pre-screening time, so make sure you attend. You don't want to get bumped from your interview on Friday by a student they met at the reception. (Yes, that has happened.) Students preparing to graduate within the next year (this December or next May) should make plans now to attend this important event. Recent graduates (May-August) are also welcome to participate.
Résumés: Initial drafts of resumes are due by July 1. Final drafts of résumés are due by August 19. The early deadline is necessary as time is needed to get the résumé book compiled and sent to the companies by September 4 to select candidates for interviews. Résumés must go through an approval process before being included in the resume book, and must be APPROVED by August 19 (before the fall semester starts, so don't delay). Students with an interest in specific companies can submit a list of those companies by Monday, August 29 (lists will be sent to companies with the resume book on September 4). This doesn't guarantee you will get an interview, it just lets the companies know that you are interested in their firm. Reviewing their company websites will give you insight into the company and help you narrow down your list.
Interviewing Skills Seminar: An Interviewing Skills seminar will be held during Common Hour (September 18 in DH125) to prepare you for Interview Days. Career Linkages representatives, as well as company representatives, will provide the latest tips and techniques to help you maximize your opportunities. This seminar is mandatory for students planning to participate in St. Louis Interview/Networking Days. Students who attended this seminar in recent years were more confident, enthusiastic, and at the reception were actively engaged in conversations with company representatives throughout the evening. Registered companies are posted below with a link to their corporate Web sites, and are updated daily. Be adequately prepared for any scheduled interviews by researching the companies and becoming familiar with their products and services provided. Students should be prepared to ask questions during the interview process with information gleaned from the company's website.
Registration forms and deposit: Registration forms for students will be available in Dempster 233 after August 1. For further information, contact Gary Johnson in Dempster Hall 241, ggjohnson@semo.edu.
Résumé Examples - These examples of résumés have a format that is easy to follow and adheres to the specified guidelines. Please use these as a guide. Résumés submitted from a template available in Word 2002-2003 DO NOT meet specifications, and should not be used. Please refer to the Résumé Guidelines. A few comments received from past participating students:
"St. Louis Interview Days was a wonderful opportunity that is not available at many other schools...My advice would be to start early on everything--including your resume, finding appropriate clothes to wear, researching companies, doing mock interviews, etc. You really cannot be over-prepared. Also, even if you do not get a job out of the process, it is great interviewing practice and a great way to network."
"If it weren't for the St. Louis Interview/Networking Days, I don't think I would be at my dream job right now!"
"Students cannot pass up an opportunity like this. To be able to be around this many professionals in one day is almost irreplaceable."
"The event was incredible. I think it will bring me a lot of opportunities that I would nver have gotten otherwise."
"The experience was wonderful. Not only did it give me practice and confidence, but I got my job out of it. I would recommend anyone to participate!"
"I loved the interview days and would suggest anyone who is serious about finding a great career should participate."
"Thank you very much for having the St. Louis Interview Days. Out of the 5 interviews I had, 2 companies have already contacted me back and are going further with the interview process."
"I can't thank you all enough for this opportunity! I wouldn't have received my spring tax internship if it wasn't for all your hard work and dedicaiton to us students."
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Registered Companies for 2013
Anders CPA's & Advisors (www.anderscpa.com)
Deloitte (www.deloitte.com)
Edward Jones
Enterprise Holders, Inc (www.go.enterprise.com)
Fastenal
HD Supply Waterworks (www.hdsupply.com)
Juggle, LLC (www.juggle.com)
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Macy's Credit & Customer Service (www.macyscollege.com)
Mass Mutual St. Louis (www.massmutualcareers.com)
Mueller Prost PC (www.muellerprost.com)
Northwestern Mutual (www.nwfn.com)
Northwestern Mutual, Clayton (www.nm-stlclayton.com)
Rubin Brown (www.rubinbrown.com)
The Sherwin-Williams Company (www.sherwin.com)
Stone Carlie & Company (www.stonecarlie.com)
Swank Motion Pictures (www.swank.com)
Westward Financial Strategies/Guardian and Park Avenue Securities (www.westwardfs.com)