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Pepperdine Hosts Third Annual Career Week

Following two successful Career Week’s at Pepperdine, the third annual event will take place from Monday, Jan. 24 to Friday, Jan. 28, across the five Pepperdine campuses located in Southern California. Students and alumni will have an exclusive opportunity to enjoy over 40 programs and workshops exploring professional skills development, career exploration, and job search strategies.

Open to all Pepperdine University students and alumni, offers a series of activities and programs for students preparing to make the transition from classroom to career and alumni seeking a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Visit the Alumni Association website for a full schedule of Career Week events.

"Alumni and students face unique challenges in this economic environment, from finding the right job after graduation to keeping the job one already has," says Katrina Holland, events and employer relations coordinator at the Career Center. "Every event is intended to give students and alumni the advantage to compete professionally and build a strong professional network to generate opportunity."

The week will allow Pepperdine students and alumni the chance for professional self-improvement, says Brad Dudley, associate dean of students for career services and civic engagement. "We know we have highly motivated students and alumni—it's part of the Pepperdine culture," he says. "With many different opportunities over five days at five campuses, a motivated student or alum can find something that sharpens their skills, allows them to retool their career, challenges their thinking, or helps strengthen their network."

Throughout the week, the opportunity to apply for jobs open to students and alumni will be available through the Career Center Web sites. For those interested in posting or perusing job opportunities, the service is free of charge and will be available on an ongoing basis.

Career Week highlights include:

Career Week Central. During Career Week, the career center’s offices will be moved outside to provide a central one-stop location for all questions about the career center, career services, and Career Week. Information and tech help will be available for CareerSpace, Career Week event information and registration, and resume review assistance will all be available. Hosted by Seaver College.

The School of Public Policy (SPP) will host a panel of alumni for a Non-Profit Management Panel at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24, in SPP Room 177. The panelists, from differing backgrounds and all thriving in non-profit management, will describe their jobs and how they got them—and how students can get them, too.

The Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) will host alumna Erin Rank for a keynote address, Creating a Career of Purpose, Service, and Leadership: What’s behind your Pepperdine brand?, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24, in room 203 of the West LA campus. Rank is the president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity, Greater Los Angeles; she will share her experience about launching a career with purpose.

The School of Law (SOL) will host A Conversation with Entertainment and Real Estate Lawyer Michael Eisner at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26. The Los Angeles entertainment attorney will give a presentation and answer questions in room D of the law school.

Assistant dean of special academic programs Dana Dudley will present a session exploring Fulbright and Other Fellowships at 2 p.m. in the Hahn Fireside Room, Malibu, on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

In what is sure to be a highlight of the week, the Graziadio School of Business and Management, in partnership with Pepperdine’s National Association of Women MBA’s (NAWMBA), will host the Dress for Success Fashion Event on Wednesday, Jan. 26. Beginning at 6 p.m. in the Drescher Graduate Campus Auditorium, the evening of style will showcase examples on how to make a great first impression in any workplace setting. Expert Kimberly Bordonaro of Prostyle Image will cover how to build your own professional style. Dress for Success representatives will also be there to share about their wonderful organization and wrap up our Professional Suit Clothing Drive: gently used business clothing will be collected until the event date, across all of Pepperdine's campuses.

The SoCal Social, at the exclusive California Yacht Club on Thursday, Jan. 27, will be an opportunity for students, alumni, and employers to network with each other and meet networking etiquette expert Carrie Click (’98, MPP ’00). As a consultant for Fortune 500 executives and former protocol officer at the White House, Click will commence the evening with a lively networking activity to demonstrate tips for naturally working a room, and engaging and exiting small talk. Valet parking, heavy hors d’oeurves, and entrance in the drawing for prices are included in the ticket price.

Seaver College will host two sessions exploring financial independence and strategies with Money 101: Short-Term Personal Strategies for New Grads at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, followed by Money 102: Long-Term Personal Strategies for New Grads at 2 p.m.; both sessions will take place in the Hahn Fireside Room, Malibu. Barry Garapedian, the senior vice president of wealth management at Smith Barney, will present the two workshops covering personal budgets, salary requirements, student loans, credit card debt, 401 (k) accounts, and long-term personal financial strategies after graduation.

Many other interesting and specialized events will be held across the five schools and campuses. For a full schedule of events, visit the Career Week Web site.