Written by: Genesis Ventura
Southern Adventist University will hold an in-person Meet the Firms event on Thursday, February 24, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., in the Iles P.E. Center.
Meet the Firms is held every semester, providing both undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to network with potential employers. Students from every major and department are welcomed and encouraged to attend and gain networking experience, according to organizers.
Many companies attend Meet the Firms. The list includes AdventHealth, Friends of the Festival and Reliance Partners.
Nova Munselle, Career Services coordinator, said additional companies will be available at a virtual Meet the Firms scheduled for March 29, from noon until 5 p.m. She said Meet the Firms will have about 25 companies, some local and some from different states.
Munselle said she sends invites to companies that are Adventist and non-Adventist, but it is the company’s choice to attend the event. This semester, there will be a diverse selection of companies, both Adventist and non-Adventist, she explained.
Munselle said that in the past, this event was more for specific majors, like nursing and business, but the goal now is to make it inclusive for all majors. According to Munselle, many companies are looking for a variety of majors. For example, Friends of the Festival is a summer music festival, so students interested in music, radio and graphic design can learn more about positions available with them.
Munselle encourages freshmen and sophomores to attend the event even if they are not looking for internships or jobs.
Aaron Patterson, who recently landed an internship with AdventHealth in the media production department, explained how important it is to attend this event. He said Meet the Firms played a critical part in helping him get the internship.
“Networking is incredibly important, and meeting the firms allows you to get out there and meet people,” Patterson said. “Put your best foot forward, wear your heart on your sleeve and show how willing you are to learn. I can’t imagine an employer who won’t want to meet that.”
For more information about the employers that are attending Meet the Firms and the overall event, scan the QR code below. Students should be able to log into Handshake with their Southern email and password.