Dear Heavener Career Week goers,

This may be the best of times and the worst of times. You may secure an internship or die trying. Being in the business school this week is always a struggle because I feel the stress leaping out from the walls of the buildings. I can't even imagine the stress of the wonderful faculty and staff that put this week on. It is filled with dozens of top companies coming to recruit UF's top talent. It is definitely a stressful week for not only students but also our faculty and staff.

This week is great because there are little workshops different companies put on where you can get to know their employees/recruiters personally and understand more about the different internships/positions available and what the company is about. If you don't like the craziness of career showcase, this is a great first step. By attending the session of a company before you go to career showcase, you can set yourself apart because the recruiter will have already seen you the day before. You can also go to career showcase first and then go to different workshops throughout the week. Recruiters will remember you better if you give them more face time. Even if you don't secure a position out of these interactions, these are still important connections to have for the future.

In case you haven't been told a million times like I have, I will repeat it. Networking is essential. Networking is crucial. Eat, breathe, love networking is your new mantra, especially if you are a junior or a senior.

Freshman and sophomores do not stress out as much. My advice to you is to not worry as much because if you are goal-driven and work hard, the right internship will come along your junior year.

Heavener Career Week at UF definitely fills us all with many emotions, both positive and negative. It is a wonderful way to meet companies, recruiters, old interns/employees and interact with other students. However, the older you get the more stressful these interactions can be. It is important to just be yourself and make the best of any situation.