4 Simple Reasons to Register for the SoACE Technology Boot Camp

Tech Bootcamp 2020 image

There is no doubt that the past few months have been quite the whirlwind. Lots of unexpected twists and turns with schedules, new work from home routines, and multitasking with personal and family responsibilities. Through this time of consistent change, one thing remains the same: The Technology Boot Camp! The fourth annual SoACE Technology Boot Camp is quickly approaching! On Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30 SoACE members will connect virtually to learn how colleagues are exploring marketing techniques and utilizing technology trends in their respective spaces. We have so much to learn from each other! So, put on your comfiest of clothes, grab a cup of joe, your techiest way to take notes, and learn something new from your colleagues!

Now, why should you register? Read on:

  1. It’s free! Yes, really! SoACE provides so many fantastic, fun and free opportunities to continue the learning for everyone at every stage in their professional development. This is just another great option to spice up your month. Free is one of my favorite four-letter words!
  2. It’s convenient! Attend every 1-hour session to fill up your afternoons or pick and choose a topic that catches your attention. And, if the dates don’t work for you, the sessions will be recorded so you can watch them on your own time. It’s a win-win!
  3. Learn something new! If you have “Learner” in your Top 5 Strengths like I do, then you know how I feel about learning something new. I’m a total geek when it comes to the process of learning something new. I get excited and I get energized. Don’t you? Even if you don’t have Learner in your Top 5 I would love for you to still consider what you could learn!
  4. Support your fellow colleagues! Show your colleagues (whether you’ve met them or not) some virtual love. Let’s show up in the masses, and interact with them. Send them questions through the platform and follow up with them after to continue the conversation offline. The community of SoACE is strong and mighty, let’s continue this incredible trend!

I’ve thought of at least 4. If you could add one more, what would it be?

Register Now for the Technology Boot camp- Free for all SoACE Members

Questions about the boot camp? Contact Danielle Golinski (dgolinski@elon.edu). Can’t wait to “see” you there!

SoACE Employer Relations Summit – Info & Tips for a Great Virtual Conference

Join Us Virtually June 24-25, 2020

To Do: Register for the ER Summit

We hope you will join us virtually on June 24-25 for the sixth annual SoACE Employer Relations Summit. Please see below for tips for success at a virtual conference and information on Roundtables and Breakout Sessions.

Registration is still open until Friday, June 19, 2020!

Registration Rates:

SoACE Members: $25

Non-Members: $50

Registration fees include: keynote speaker, breakout sessions (Weds & Thurs), networking coffee chat, roundtable discussions (Wednesday), and an employer spotlight panel and industry spotlights (Thursday).

Register Today!

 

Top 5 Tips for a Great Virtual Conference

  1. Get technology working on your side.

With a virtual conference, getting your technology set up correctly is the first step to have a great experience. We will be using the Crowdcast platform for the virtual ER Summit. Crowdcast works best with Chrome and Firefox internet browsers. Avoid Internet Explorer and Safari if possible. Set yourself up in a space with good quality, high-speed internet for best results. There may be times during the conference when you choose to engage via microphone or video, so adjust your microphone and camera settings using the platform settings, and please be conscious of your background.

  1. Pre-register for smooth navigation.

You should have received an email from the SoACE ER Summit Committee with the subject line “ER Summit | Build your personalized Summit experience!” Click the link in this email to build your personal itinerary for the two-day event. In response, you will receive a customized list of links to each of the sessions you selected. This will allow for easy-to-follow, smooth navigation at all times throughout the conference.

  1. Engage fully with other participants.

As with any other conference, one of the greatest benefits of the virtual Employer Relations Summit is the opportunity to connect with colleagues in Employer Relations and Campus Recruiting. Network with other participants through engaging in the chat function, turning on your video during roundtable discussions and the virtual coffee chat, attending the Industry Spotlight sessions, and connecting via LinkedIn or Twitter. As a reminder, our colleagues outside of the SoACE region have been invited to join us!

  1. Participate in social media contests and dialogue.

We have lots of fun activities and contests planned via Instagram and Twitter during the summit. Be sure to follow along using the hashtags #ERSummit20 and #SoACEERKG to join in on the conversation and competition. This is another great way to make lasting connections with fellow ER and Campus Recruiting professionals.

  1. Take ample screen breaks to walk and stretch.

It can be easy to lose track of time when engaging in so many informative, inspiring sessions and programs! Be sure to take advantage of the built-in breaks to get up and away from your screen to rest your eyes, stretch, take a walk, or grab a snack.

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Learned Lessons from within the Career Center Trenches to overcome these uncertain times

By Nelly Leon, Florida International University

My career history stems from the trenches as a mid-level professional that survived the economic crisis of 2008. I’m not a senior leader nor a thought leader in the career services profession, but a passionate career coach with 12 years of career services experience working in the private and public higher education sector. It is no doubt that we have entered uncertain times due to COVID-19. It’s not something I and most of us have witnessed during our lifetime. We are managing through the emotional toll of a pandemic with personal and professional challenges while witnessing our students, colleagues, family and friends losing jobs and/or internships. Something that sounds all too familiar for me.

With this said, I begin my career development journey at a for-profit university in 2007 and shortly right after, the economic crisis of 2008 began. I was lucky to have remained in my position as a Senior Career Advisor for several years before I knew I might be next on the chopping block, most likely due to the ramifications of the crisis. After 2008, I was witness to the overall down spiral of career centers’ struggle to provide connections and opportunities for students.  Career fairs’ employer registrations dwindled, jobs and internships postings decreased, and employers stopped calling our office to recruit students. To add more salt to the wound, enrollment at my for-profit university decreased over the years and this caused an impact in the workforce.  Many of my colleagues in the career office and other departments unfortunately fell victim to the impact of these challenging times. I knew my head would most likely be next on the chopping block, and I made the decision to find greener and more secure pastures. I was lucky to find and accept an offer at Florida International University in Career & Talent Development and that today, I am proud to say is my “work” home!

Continue reading “Learned Lessons from within the Career Center Trenches to overcome these uncertain times”