Student Career Day at the 50th Annual Meeting

By Anthony D. Andre, Student Affairs Committee Chair

On Monday, October 16, as part of the annual Student Career and Professional Development Day, we are offering two great sessions! In the morning session, sponsored by the American Psychological Association's (APA) Science Directorate, students will be informed and entertained by an interactive tutorial titled "The Art of Speaking." This tutorial, presented by Deborah Boehm-Davis, will help students perfect the most important and professional skill-that of oral communication. Attendees will learn how to effectively organize and dynamically deliver a compelling presentation. Also addressed are common issues of speaking anxiety, presentation slide design, Q&A, and overcoming presentation disasters. Don't miss this opportunity to hone your speaking and oral communication skills, as they are relevant to all professional HF/E pursuits.

In the afternoon session, the Old Dominion University Student Chapter will host two panels under the theme, "Internships: Building a Bridge from Classrooms to Careers." Human factors and ergonomics are predominantly applied sciences; therefore, internship programs offer a number of opportunities to further the professional development of students. Ideally, internships should be beneficial to both students and employers, assisting students in meeting their academic goals while providing employers with an experienced pool of job candidates.

The purpose of these internship panels is threefold. First, students will learn about the benefits of taking part in an internship program. This includes both short-term benefits that assist them in meeting their academic goals and long-term benefits that will help them in their professional endeavors. Second, students will receive guidance on how to obtain an internship, including advice on selecting, applying, and preparing for an intern position. Finally, they will learn what to expect and what is expected of them after they have secured a position. Students will leave the seminar with a better understanding of the opportunities that internships offer in terms of their academic and professional development, how to secure an internship, and which programs best fit their areas of interest.

In the first panel, students who have recently completed an internship will share their knowledge and personal experiences. In the second, representatives from organizations that typically offer internships in human factors/ergonomics will provide an inside perspective about their internship programs and discuss what they are looking for in candidates.

For further information about the Student Career Day, contact me at andre@interface-analysis.com or 408/848-6014.