Unlock Your Career Potential: Essential LinkedIn Networking and Career Readiness Strategies for Students

Building Career Readiness Through Strategic Networking and Experiential Learning

Clark University's Sophomore Summit offers a comprehensive approach to career development for students at the midpoint of their undergraduate journey. This conference-style event emphasizes the importance of starting early to build career readiness skills, helping students make intentional choices that set them up for success as they approach graduation and beyond.

Why Early Career Preparation Matters

"It's critical for students thinking about their future career — what they want to do right after college and long-term — to pursue experiential learning opportunities," says Melisa Alves, associate dean and director of career education and experiential learning in the Career Connections Center. The summit supports students in exploring academic interests, learning about key campus career resources, and making connections between disciplines and potential career pathways.

Learning from Those Who've Been There

One of the most valuable aspects of career preparation is hearing from alumni and peers who have successfully navigated the transition from student to professional. The summit features an alumni panel including:

• Corey Bernstein '17, child-focused recruitment social worker
• Allegra Marra '14, CDP '15, director of corporate and volunteer engagement
• David Quiroa '17, community and government affairs manager
• Kefiana Wairimũ Kabati '17, third-grade ELA teacher
• Ashley Valois '25, MPA '26, federal practice intern
• Navy Vela '26, animal care intern

Practical Skills Development Sessions

Students can choose from four focused sessions that provide hands-on career preparation:

1. Building a strong professional network and LinkedIn profile - Led by Adwoa Sakyi-Lamptey, senior associate director of employer and alumni engagement
2. Applying for an internship - Led by Lisa Chase, associate director of internships and experiential learning
3. Unlocking research, fellowships, and career preparation - Led by Steven Moon, director of special academic opportunities
4. Developing and highlighting career competencies - Led by Rosalie Torres-Stone, sociology professor

Key Career Assessment Tools

Students receive guidance on using the Strong Interest Inventory, a career assessment tool that identifies an individual's interests and links them to occupations and educational pathways. This helps students understand their natural inclinations and how they align with potential career paths.

Professional Profile Enhancement

An important practical element of the summit is the opportunity for students to get a professional headshot taken for their LinkedIn profile during the event. This addresses a common gap in student professional profiles and helps create a strong first impression with potential employers and connections.

Understanding Employer Expectations

"It's important to understand the competencies employers value and to begin identifying experiences at Clark and beyond that help build those competencies," emphasizes Alves. The summit helps students bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace expectations.

Building Confidence Through Knowledge

Feedback from previous Sophomore Summit participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with students reporting that they walk away with new knowledge and the confidence to figure out the next steps they need to take in their career development journey.