Professional Development Week preps students for future

Professional Development Week will take place at Texas A&M University-Commerce Nov. 2 through Nov. 6.

This is the second time A&M-Commerce has hosted Professional Development Week, and students are encouraged to attend.

There will be various informational events during the week to help students on their way to career success. It will highlight services the career development center offers, which range from interviewing skills and business etiquette to proper attire.

To inform students what proper attire would consist of in the work force or in a job interview, there will be a "Dress for Success" fashion show.

"I'm very much looking forward to the fashion show again," junior elementary education major Demetria Scott said. "It really helped students learn what type of clothes one should and should not wear when in the job field."

A new event occurring for this year's Professional Development Week will be mock interviews. In the mock interviews, a professional from the student's degree field will interview the student. The students will get a better understanding of what a real interview with a person from their chosen field might involve.

There will also be guest speakers for the "Do You Want a Job or Not" seminar. The guest speakers consist of recent graduates from A&M-Commerce.

"The young alumni will be there to help current students figure out what really needs to be done in order to obtain a job and secure a position," Coordinator of the Career Development Center Gregory Shirley said. "The student will learn what professionalism is and how to conduct oneself, not only in interviews, but also in a business meeting."

Students wishing to attend the "Do You Want a Job or Not" seminar must sign up by Nov. 2.

The Career Development Center is partnering with the Financial Aid Office for the "Money Matters" seminar. There will be guest speakers informing students about credit scores, budgeting and paying student loans on time.

"I plan on attending the "Money Matters" seminar," junior radio/television major Craig Jones said. "It'll be good information to know once I'm out of college. I don't want to be an old man still paying off my student loans."