Bulldogs Set for Networking Night Event
February 17, 2020 | Student-Athlete Development
by Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications
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STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Student-Athlete Development will host its annual "Networking Night" with all third-, fourth- and fifth-year Bulldogs in attendance on Monday, Feb. 24, at the Scoreboard Club at Davis Wade Stadium.
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"We want this event to help our student-athletes grow their network," said Ben Rodriguez, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. "In the past, I've had several instances when a person got a job interview on the spot because of an event like this. Some of these people will have positions, whether it's an internship or an entry-level job, that they are hiring for, and if student-athletes take this event seriously, they could get offered an interview. This event focuses on their question-asking ability, so meeting someone and getting to know who they are as well as articulating what makes you qualified for a job."
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More than 40 different businesses and 75 representatives will be in attendance at the event, including people from the medical, engineering, financial, education, public service and military industries.
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During the entire week leading up to "Networking Night," the Student-Athlete Development Office will be working with student-athletes to come in and either update or create a resume for the event. A separate registration link is also being provided for student-athletes to sign up for the event. With this opportunity, anyone who signs up going through the link will receive a padfolio, business cards, a lanyard with their nametag on it and five resumes printed on resume paper.
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"This is an event that we expect everyone to be at, but this is a way to start building good habits like registering and being conscious of additional things you can do for an event like this," said Rodriguez. "If a student-athlete takes advantage of this opportunity, they will be given a good set of tools to make them more confident and prepared for the event."
Last semester, the Student-Athlete Development Office hosted mock interviews so Bulldogs could get the opportunity to earn one-on-one interview experience with more than 40 professionals from across the southeast. The event, along with the upcoming one, falls under the professional development pillar for the program's Life After Sport Initiatives. Other events from the year under this pillar include professional attire, job search strategies and resume DAWGS.
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"The reason we had the mock interviews first is intentional," said Rodriguez. "That event is an opportunity for our student-athletes to be in a structured environment and get used to meeting with employers for the first time. We will have numerous people who attended that event in the fall here again for the networking event. This also ties into some of the other professional development workshops that we have done. This is the culminating event where they take what they have learned throughout the year and apply it to this event."
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Last September, Mississippi State rebranded its Life Skills department to Student-Athlete Development. Mississippi State believes in the philosophy that an athletic department's priority is to enhance the student-athlete experience and that success, academically, athletically and personally, is a byproduct. Through the use of interactive workshops and experiential learning opportunities, Mississippi State will strive to provide student-athletes with experiences that will prepare them for success as they transition into college, continue through their collegiate careers, and embark on their professional careers.
For the most up-to-date information, follow MSU Student-Athlete Development on Twitter by searching for "HailStateSADev."
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STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Student-Athlete Development will host its annual "Networking Night" with all third-, fourth- and fifth-year Bulldogs in attendance on Monday, Feb. 24, at the Scoreboard Club at Davis Wade Stadium.
Â
"We want this event to help our student-athletes grow their network," said Ben Rodriguez, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. "In the past, I've had several instances when a person got a job interview on the spot because of an event like this. Some of these people will have positions, whether it's an internship or an entry-level job, that they are hiring for, and if student-athletes take this event seriously, they could get offered an interview. This event focuses on their question-asking ability, so meeting someone and getting to know who they are as well as articulating what makes you qualified for a job."
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More than 40 different businesses and 75 representatives will be in attendance at the event, including people from the medical, engineering, financial, education, public service and military industries.
Â
During the entire week leading up to "Networking Night," the Student-Athlete Development Office will be working with student-athletes to come in and either update or create a resume for the event. A separate registration link is also being provided for student-athletes to sign up for the event. With this opportunity, anyone who signs up going through the link will receive a padfolio, business cards, a lanyard with their nametag on it and five resumes printed on resume paper.
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"This is an event that we expect everyone to be at, but this is a way to start building good habits like registering and being conscious of additional things you can do for an event like this," said Rodriguez. "If a student-athlete takes advantage of this opportunity, they will be given a good set of tools to make them more confident and prepared for the event."
Last semester, the Student-Athlete Development Office hosted mock interviews so Bulldogs could get the opportunity to earn one-on-one interview experience with more than 40 professionals from across the southeast. The event, along with the upcoming one, falls under the professional development pillar for the program's Life After Sport Initiatives. Other events from the year under this pillar include professional attire, job search strategies and resume DAWGS.
Â
"The reason we had the mock interviews first is intentional," said Rodriguez. "That event is an opportunity for our student-athletes to be in a structured environment and get used to meeting with employers for the first time. We will have numerous people who attended that event in the fall here again for the networking event. This also ties into some of the other professional development workshops that we have done. This is the culminating event where they take what they have learned throughout the year and apply it to this event."
Â
Last September, Mississippi State rebranded its Life Skills department to Student-Athlete Development. Mississippi State believes in the philosophy that an athletic department's priority is to enhance the student-athlete experience and that success, academically, athletically and personally, is a byproduct. Through the use of interactive workshops and experiential learning opportunities, Mississippi State will strive to provide student-athletes with experiences that will prepare them for success as they transition into college, continue through their collegiate careers, and embark on their professional careers.
For the most up-to-date information, follow MSU Student-Athlete Development on Twitter by searching for "HailStateSADev."
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