A Life-Changing Event

Editor’s Note:  Several JWU students from the College of Hospitality Management attended a 4-day National Society of Minorities in Hospitality conference, including Katherine Zecena Constanza, who shares her experience with us, below.

I recently had one of the greatest experiences of my JWU education — attending the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) Annual National Conference & Career Fair. The conference kicked off with résumé reviews and mock interviews. The managers and vice presidents of international companies who interviewed us did so in a premier professional environment.

NSMH helps prepare students to talk with industry professionals about their future careers and, during the conference, offered workshops to enhance our job-seeking skills. The topics of the workshops, hosted by managers in the hospitality field, included working abroad and management skills, among others. We also had the opportunity to network with students from other universities who are preparing for life-changing career paths.

The last day of the conference ended with a career fair with more than 50 different employers, including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt, Hilton and Sodexo, looking to fill open positions with qualified NSMH student members. Most companies held on-the-spot interviews or scheduled students for multiple-rounds of interviews on the same day. As NSMH members, we have to be ready for whatever opportunity may come our way. Doors open when we least expect them to, and we must be prepared to make decisions about furthering our careers. Hundreds of students who attend this conference each year leave with offers for externships, internships or full-time jobs. At the end of the day, we were all thankful for the opportunities NSMH presented to us. The NSMH National Conference is definitely a life-changing event.