‘Career Madness’ fills 1819 as UC students prep for jobs
Madness enveloped the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub on Jan. 23, and Bearcat students embraced it in the best way imaginable.
This wasn’t a day of chaos — instead, “Career Madness” brought structure to the whirlwind of students’ job searches. With UC students on the hunt for full-time roles, co-ops and internship opportunities, the event delivered valuable technical career insights and one-on-one interview practice with industry executives in the heart of the Cincinnati Innovation District.
Bearcats already have a wealth of work experience due to UC’s co-op program, which U.S. News & World Report ranks near the top in the U.S. among public universities. The school boasts 100% student participation in experience-based learning, giving graduates an advantage when looking for jobs.
Still, UC continues to pave the way for Bearcats to secure first-time roles out of college through events such as Career Madness. Below are a few highlights that students took advantage of:
- Technical interview workshops
- Mock job interviews with personalized insights
- Profile feedback from LinkedIn employees
- Resume reviews with co-op employers
- Professional headshots
- Networking and 1819 building tours
Additionally, Bearcats heard keynote speeches from John Hill, vice president of story at Whop, and Mitchell Phelps, a UC alumnus and enterprise account director at LinkedIn. These career experts emphasized the value of developing a strong LinkedIn presence and the power of building personal connections, especially considering UC’s tight-knit alumni network.
Build off your alumni network at the University of Cincinnati.
John Hill Vice president of story, Whop
“Build off your alumni network at the University of Cincinnati,” Hill said during his keynote speech. “The more you tap into that network, the more likely you’ll find opportunities based on the most powerful affiliation you have.”
Career Madness provided the ideal environment for Bearcat students to bolster their interviewing skills and elevate their LinkedIn profiles. Recruiters are already consistently impressed by Bearcat applicants due to their co-op experience, making interview expertise the final skill needed for many to secure employment.
Students left Career Madness with greater confidence in their interviewing abilities and felt ready to land jobs. “This was the first time I received company feedback on how my interview answers should be,” said UC computer science major Ammey Thakur. He especially enjoyed the mock interviews during Career Madness since under normal circumstances, “It’s rare for companies to tell you when you’re giving the wrong answer.”
Candace Wade. Photo/Gregory Glevicky
These Bearcats didn’t just learn how to interview well; they also cultivated meaningful relationships with some of Cincinnati’s top employers. Companies represented at Career Madness included Procter & Gamble, Great American Insurance Group, Western & Southern Financial Group, Kaleidoscope Innovation and Zooky.
“We created this event to address a unique gap in support for our students: technical and entrepreneurial career prep,” says Candace Wade, program manager for UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship. “The insights gained today will give job seekers a competitive edge as they pursue roles at top companies and empower them to confidently market their unique value along the way.”
Whether looking for co-ops, internships or full-time jobs, UC students who attended Career Madness certainly weren’t mad about its outcome. Armed with the knowledge and skill set needed to win over recruiters, these students walked away from 1819 prepared to land the perfect position.
Featured image at top: Students listen to a presentation at 1819. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
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Have aspirations to land the perfect job one day? Whether you’re a first-generation student or from a family of Bearcats, UC is proud to support you at every step along your journey. We want to make sure you succeed — and feel right at home. Apply today.
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