T H E B I G E V E N T : Every Student Prepared for a Successful Life and Career

The BIG Event, hosted by the University Career Development Center, is a professional development conference designed to give University of Arkansas students the competitive advantage in their job or graduate school search, and life beyond college.

Pre-Conference Networking Begins with Building Rapport 3pm-4:30pm ARKU Theatre

Speaker: Seth Mohorn, Certified Dale Carnegie Trainer and Managing Partner Did you know that 75%-85% of jobs are found through networking? It’s a skill vital to the success of any job search. During this interactive session participants will learn the true value of networking and the skills necessary to connect with anyone-building rapport, questioning, listening and memory techniques.

Opening Session Dining Etiquette / Networking Dinner 5pm-6:30pm ARKU Ballroom

Facilitators: Chris Case & Tommye Johnson, Mitchell Communications, Inc. Since first impressions greatly influence a hiring decision, the manner in which perspective candidates present themselves can make a critical difference. Oftentimes employers use dining situations to interview and screen prospective candidates. Attend this session and learn to successfully network and to use proper etiquette for conducting business during a meal. A complete meal will be served during this event.

(This session is only for invited guests and currently enrolled UA students of any major or academic level.

Pre-registration and confirmation of registration required).

Select one from sessions 1 and 2 OR select Session 3 only

SESSION 1—6:45-7:30pm ARKU 5th Floor

Job Search Strategies for Turbulent Times ARKU 504

Budgeting for College: Money Wisdom ARKU 512

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Yes we are experiencing turbulent times, and the economy makes job searching nearly impossible. But don’t despair. Those who are prepared and equipped with the necessary skills and strategies can still find employment. Attend this session and learn key job search strategies from top executives.

Presenters: Jess Willis, Andrea Burleson, and Gary Moore, Program Coordinators with the Office of Financial Aid Do you need one less worry so you can achieve your education and career goals? Are you interested in easy ways to get your personal finances in superb order? Join The Office of Financial Aid for an essential seminar: Budgeting for College: Money Wisdom to gain specific tools for building a budget plan and tips for income sources, spending wisely, and student loan recommendations.

Personal Branding ARKU 509

Generational Diversity in Today’s Workplace: Fact or Fiction ARKU 507-508

Presenter: Paul Davis, V.P. Customer Development, Tyson Foods, Inc An individual’s brand assets provide an idea or perception about them. These assets include but are not limited to overall appearance, first impression, work skills and any unique qualities that can be leveraged to differentiate themselves and to leave others with a lasting and positive impression. Attend this session and learn to identify your own unique brand, maximize and deliver greater performance results and how to let your business integrity and reputation open doors for better collaboration and opportunities, while being confident and bold.

Presenter: Clifford C. Sandsmark, Sr. Compensation Manager,J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

For the first time in history, there are four generations working

shoulder to shoulder in today’s workplaces. The recent economic

downturn has Traditionalists and Boomers hanging on to careers that

would have long since passed onto the next generation: Gen X. But

Gen X is getting squeezed out, and Gen Y, the latest entrants, are on

deck to inherit it all. But before you, my Millennial friend, assume this

presumed birthright, let’s look at the workplace you are about to enter,

and examine the current state of generational diversity in today’s

workplaces to prepare you for what lies ahead.

Green Jobs: Career Opportunities for the Future ARKU 510-511

Presenter: Marshall Carter, Career Counselor, University Career Development Center

The need for renewable energy is creating a whole new industry. A major shift to renewable energy and sustainability is expected to produce 2

million new green jobs during the next three decades. Come to this presentation on green jobs and learn about new and emerging occupations.

SESSION 2—7:45-8:30pm ARKU 5th Floor

Leadership Skills: The Competitive Edge for Your Job Search ARKU 507-508

Using Social Media and the Alumni Association to Find Employment ARKU 510-511

Presenter: Adrain Smith, Assistant Director, University of Arkansas Center for Leadership and Student Engagement What is going to separate you from the other 150 applicants who have applied for the same job as you? Your leadership involvement in extracurricular programs provides you with the experience and knowledge that can translate into you having a competitive edge and the necessary skills to perform the job. In this presentation you will learn how leadership skills give you the edge over other applicants, and how to market these experiences on your resume and in the interview.

Presenter: Anthony McAdoo, Sr. Associate Director, Arkansas Alumni Association

Have you ever wondered how you can harness the power of your

alumni network and social media to increase your job search? Come

learn how to take the fact that you are a student at the University of

Arkansas and tap into a worldwide network of over 120,000 alumni to

increase your job search strategies. This presentation will use examples

identifying networking connections and strategies that can help you

identify new job opportunities and to increase your success in the

application process by tapping into your network.

Using USAJobs/Career Connector to apply for Careers with the Internal Revenue Service ARKU 504

The Impact of Global Experiences in the Workplace ARKU 509

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The Federal government is the largest employer in the United States with 1.8 million civilian employees. It is estimated that up to 500,000 Federal employees will retire in the next five years. In this workshop you will learn the 6 steps to successfully using USAJobs/Career Connector to build resume profiles and how to apply for Internal Revenue Service Careers.

Presenter: Aleshia Sokoloski, Career Counselor, University Career Development Center In this session you will learn about Global competence, its importance in the workplace, and how to gain global competence. We will also focus on making international experiences a part of your career plan and how to then market those experiences to future employers.

Session 3 – 6:45pm-8:30pm Multicultural Center-ARKU 4th Floor

Black Alumni Society “Jumpstarting Your Career” Panel Discussion and Meet and Greet Reception

Facilitators: Jarred Sneed and Clarice Montgomery, UA Students; Ebony Wyatt, UA Alumni, Senior Category Development Manager, General Mills The panel discussion will feature University of Arkansas alumni. They will provide students with tips and strategies to help maximize their college experience and jumpstart their careers. Special emphasis will be placed on building your personal brand, highlighting achievement and experiences to land the perfect job, the importance of mentors and how to succeed in a competitive corporate environment. Immediately following the panel discussion, there will be a meet and greet reception designed to allow U of A students an opportunity to network with Black Alumni Society professionals.

THE BIG EVENT SPONSORS:

The University Career Development Center wishes to thank and acknowledge our sponsors for this event.

Gold Level ($5,000 or more) Tyson Foods, Inc. Silver Level ($1,000 -$4,999) Arkansas Black Alumni Society Bronze Level ($200-$999) UA Multicultural Center and Sam Walton College of Business Career Development Center

Special thanks to the following organizations for their support and assistance in the planning and promotion of The Big Event:

National Pan-Hellenic Council, Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. & Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

The Career Development Center Sponsorship Program offers an opportunity for businesses and organizations

to demonstrate their commitment to the University and our students through direct financial support of the University Career Development Center. To inquire how your organization might get involved,

please call Dr. Angela Williams at (479) 575-2805.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:

Seth Mohorn Seth Mohorn is a certified trainer in all of Dale Carnegie & Associates offerings. He is a native of Denver, Colorado and now resides in Springdale, Arkansas with his wife Charity and sons Ian and Eli. Seth has been consistently recognized for outstanding achievement in instruction, sales and sales management. In instruction, Seth has received the Excellence in Instruction award each of the last five years rating him one of the top three instructors for Dale Carnegie & Associates Worldwide. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 Seth was recognized as the Regional Trainer in North America and Canada for Dale Carnegie Training. Seth is also a member of the Dale Carnegie & Associates Subject Matter Expert Team for both the Dale Carnegie Course and the High Impact Presentations Course. In sales and sales management, receiving awards each of the last nine years, Seth is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 sales performers and top 20 sales managers for the Dale Carnegie organization worldwide. In 2004, Seth was recognized by the NWA Business Journal as one of the top 40 under 40 in Northwest Arkansas.

Chris Case Chris has her BA in Psychology from UNI and is a much sought after speaker and trainer because of her energetic and enthusiastic style and her interactive workshop. She has been working with Mitchell Communications Group since moving to Fayetteville in 2008. Chris’s vision and entrepreneurial spirit has allowed her to partner in several successful start up businesses including a company that developed and produced training products and courses, a speaker’s bureau and a motivational seminar company. Chris has spent the last 13 years training individuals and organizations on the basic skills that businesses need to operate successfully. In 1994, Chris founded Case Training, Inc. on the premises that computer education could be fun, exciting and educational. Since then she expanded her training to include communication skills, time management, change, customer service, teamwork and attitude. In all of her presentations, Chris uses examples from her past experiences as a business owner, mother of four and a cancer survivor.

Tommye Johnson Tommye Johnson is a member of the Organizational and Leadership Development Team at Mitchell Communications Group. She completed her undergraduate coursework at Missouri State University with a BS in Communication and minors in both Spanish and English. She completed her graduate work at the University of Arkansas with an MA in Communication. During her time at the University of Arkansas, Tommye spent two years teaching fundamental communication concepts and public speaking skills to undergraduate students. She also conducted original research on the rhetoric of marriage literature from the 1950’s, which she presented to an audience of her peers at the National Communication Association Conference in 2009, and co-authored a paper discussing and analyzing communication regarding sustainability in buyer-seller relationships which was presented at the International Communication Association Conference in 2009. More recently, Tommye has trained a broad client-base on subjects such as Intense Listening, Dealing with Difficult People and more company specific subjects such as culture and global challenges.