The WIN Center hosted an Entree to Employment event, helping business students to develop hospitality skills and network with local business representatives
Lemoore College hosted an Entrée to Employment on April 19 for business students to experience networking with businesses through the form of a dinner rather than through a normal career fair. The main focus of the event was to make sure that students were getting the networking that they needed too. There were 25 students for all the 25 businesses that were in attendance. At each table there was a table facilitator to help with conversation flow, students, and a couple of business representatives.
Students who attended this event all went through various training to prepare for the event. Etiquette training was provided so that students knew how to act during dinner and place their cutlery on their plate for the hospitality students. Networking skills and professional dress training was very helpful to the students because it prepared them to present themselves in a professional way to the business representatives. These three trainings were especially helpful for these students because not only were they using it that night, but they will be able to take it with them as they continue on as business students and in their future careers
Entrée to Employment was the first time that it was being done. The planning for the event started in January just after it was brought up to do it last semester. The WIN Center’s student worker, Janet Rodrigues, did quite a bit of the work in planning and creating the event. Janet worked on printing out all the menus, program, and even did the flyers to promote the event. Great job Janet!
Before the dinner started, Dean of Career and Technical Education (CET) Kris Costa gave a little speech as to why they did this event. She said that it would provide the students an insight to what the real world of employment is really like. She also mentioned that the students would be able to develop their soft skills, such as communication and small talk, to be able to get themselves out there. This event was another opportunity for students to get an insight of what their careers could be like when they join the workforce in just a few short years. It was also a great way for students to be exposed to different jobs that would best suit them.
Entrée to Employment was an overall great success and will extremely beneficial for the students who attended to carry on with what they learned to the next stages of their education and their future careers.
View pictures and video recap from the event below:
