Elon’s student-to-student event provides connections to jobs, internships and more.
Hundreds of students filled Alumni Gym March 28 for The Elon Network 2.0, the second annual student-organized networking event. Billed as “the next generation of networking,” the event is designed to help students and alumni share information with one another about jobs, internships and other career opportunities and paths.
Senior Brian Serow, who is majoring in entrepreneurship and marketing, helped launch the program last year and served as director this year.
“The Elon Network connects Elon on a whole different level,” Serow said. “We have real cool students doing really important things and this allows them to share what they’ve learned with other students who they may not know.”
Student and alumni volunteers stood at tables wearing color-coded T-shirts related to various academic areas, allowing their peers to easily identify who they should seek out for advice.
Senior Darien Flowers was at the table with other social science majors telling younger students about his experience interning with the Governor of Ohio. “I worked in constituent affairs, and a lot of students don’t want to start there,” Flowers explained. “But I wanted to let younger students know that constituent affairs is really important if you want to work in politics. That’s where the really successful people usually begin their careers.”
Flowers said The Elon Network is a great place to get the real story on career pathways. “You’re hearing it from a student who’s actually done it. It’s really great.”
Senior Mary Yost came to the event to gather more information as she plans for life after graduation. “It’s cool that students can network with other students,” Yost said. “You sit in class with other students every day, but you never think of asking them for help or advice. We’re from all over the country, there’s bound to be someone on this campus who can help out in finding an opportunity in a city where you want to live.
Serow pointed out that several alumni also came to share advice with students at The Elon Network. There were also professional recruiters from several companies and organizations and even a Brooks Brothers team on hand with clothes to provide students with tips on dressing for success.
Serow said The Elon Network was made possible with extensive support from Elon’s Student Professional Development Center along with assistance from Connie Ledoux Book, associate provost for academic affairs, and Kiley Moorefield ’07, coordinator of young alumni engagement.