{"id":4477,"date":"2023-03-15T13:21:59","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T17:21:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/parents\/2023\/03\/a-message-from-the-office-of-career-and-professional-development\/"},"modified":"2023-03-22T12:13:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T16:13:27","slug":"a-message-from-the-office-of-career-and-professional-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/parents\/2023\/03\/a-message-from-the-office-of-career-and-professional-development\/","title":{"rendered":"A Message from the Office of Career and Professional Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear HPU Parent,<\/p>\n

The professional development journey of our students never stops. HPU is continually committed to supporting the growth and development of our entire study body. In fact, even our HPU alumni like Cameron Scott, pictured above to my left, frequently return to campus to mentor our students.<\/p>\n

Cameron graduated in 2017 and today works at the Major League Baseball Association (MLB). I knew him well and worked with him when he was an HPU student. You can watch a video about him here<\/a>. He is one of many HPU success stories.<\/p>\n

When Cameron was on campus, he had lunch with current students to share his wisdom and his career journey. The students loved it and benefitted measurably from not only learning about the industry Cameron works in, but also by getting to know Cameron and making a new contact.<\/p>\n

This is an important career development step that our career advisors prepare students to take part in year-round. You can encourage your student to prepare for and participate in this exciting activity by following the steps below or by connecting with the Office of Career and Professional Development.<\/p>\n

Learning from those who are established and experienced in a career field is an important opportunity for every student. We call it \u201cInformational Interviewing\u201d \u2013 an investigative conversation with a person who is doing what you aspire to do. We believe it is a critical part of a student\u2019s personal and career development and is sure to enhance the chances of being gainfully employed upon graduation. Conducting informational interviews builds your professional network, which is the first step to starting a job search.<\/p>\n

Professionals to consider contacting for informational interviews are not limited to local professionals at one\u2019s place of work. The interconnectedness of professionals around the world allows ease in reaching out to professionals via LinkedIn or personal leads. And with technological advances, informational interviews don\u2019t just have to happen face-to-face. Conducting informational interviews over the phone or via video conference (like FaceTime or Skype) with professionals locally, across the nation or another part of the world can be just as valuable and advantageous.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Informational interviewing is NOT a job interview and should not be treated as such. In this exchange, typically about 45 minutes, where students will ask questions about the professional\u2019s career path and seek advice about the most effective strategies for entering the field. Students are asking professionals to tell their story, relate it to today\u2019s job market, and offer to be a resource \u2013 a win for everyone. Most professionals are happy to do this and feel flattered when asked. They enjoy the chance to shine while offering valuable nuggets of information that otherwise may not be easily accessible.<\/p>\n

Benefits for students who pursue informational interviewing:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n