Students who want to master a summit without climbing mountains can do so March 9 at the Business Career Summit.

The event, sponsored by the UNA Center for Professional Selling and the UNA Career Center, will let students network with potential employers in the Guillot University Center banquet halls. Students can come anytime between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

“We spend a lot of time in college learning about the theories and technologies and the academic part of what’s important in an educational career, but we also need to match that with the practical experience piece as well,” said Jerome Gafford, director of the UNA Center for Professional Selling. “This is a perfect scenario where students will be able to take what they’ve learned while in school and apply that to the conversations they have with the representatives that are going to be there.”

Representatives of over 20 companies, including Allstate, Lyons HR and UPS, will bring internship and career opportunities, Gafford said.

Senior Kendra Hanback, who studies finance, said she enjoys networking opportunities through her department.

“I definitely feel like it will help when you can get acquainted with businesses around here, and employers can get to know you,” she said. “They can put a face with a name.”

Students from any major can attend, Gafford said. To do so, he suggests bringing a printed resume and an electronic resume on a flash drive. He said they should also email their resume to themselves so they can easily forward it to the employer upon request.

On the resume, students should list degree information, but also include extracurricular involvement, which can show employers they have done more than just attend class, Gafford said. Other suggestions are leadership roles or team projects.

“Those kinds of things are what employers are looking for as an indicator that the person can be given a task and that they can work to complete that task by successful means,” Gafford said.

For resume tips and templates, visit the career center’s page at una.edu/career and select the resume and cover letter section.

Gafford also suggests bringing a positive attitude, strong handshake, respectfulness and confidence.

Attire should be business casual, and “like the old saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression,” he said.

Any students who need assistance with professional clothing can visit the career center’s Career Closet in GUC room 202. Students can borrow professional attire from the closet for free.

The event is also open to all classifications.

“It’s never too early to start planning for your career,” Gafford said. “If you wait until you’re a senior in college, you’ve waited too long.”

He said finding employment after college usually takes 18 months, so networking as a sophomore or junior could lead to job offers before graduation.

“If getting a job is important to you, this is certainly a great event to be a part of,” he said.