Information for Graduate Students

Key Dates:

• 9/8/2023 - Draft resumes due for workshop review
• 9/12/2023 - Deadline to sign up to present a poster
  
• 9/19/2023 - Draft poster due for workshop review
• 9/19/2023 - Resume workshop (3:30-5:00pm)
• 9/26/2023 - Final Resume Due
• 9/26/2023 - Poster workshop (3:30-5:00pm)
• 10/3/2023- Reception RSVPs Due
• 10/3/2023 - Final Poster Due
• 10/10/2023 - Interviewing Skills Workshop (3:30-4:30pm)
• 10/12/2023 - Deadline to sign up for interviews
• October 17-19, 2023 - Corporate Partners Event

As a graduate student, how should I participate in the Corporate Partners Program?

• You are expected to attend the Partners’ career fair and come prepared with questions for the partners/student presenters.
  
• You may opt to present your work. Student presentations are not limited in topic. They may include research, internship work, consulting projects, etc. First-year students may opt to present an undergraduate project.
  • This is a great opportunity to get exposure - all are encouraged to present!
  • In early fall we will have a Student Outreach Seminar (SOS) presentation workshop for presenters to get feedback on their slides or posters.
    
• You may submit your resume (to be shared with all Partners) and may interview for job openings with Partners. 
  • Job openings typically include internships, part-time, and full-time employment.
    
  • In early fall we will have an SOS resume workshop for students to get feedback on their resumes.
• You should attend the evening receptions. Food is provided! It is never too early to practice your networking skills and get to know others inside and outside the department.
  

Why should I participate in Corporate Partners?

• Learn about careers in Statistics and Data Science
• Interview for a cool internship or job opportunity
• Network with Virginia Tech Alumni, friends, and supporters.
  • Many of our Partners employ alumni, and this is also a great way to get introduced to the power of the informal departmental Hokie Alumni network. This network is invaluable for future research collaborations and insights into job prospects.
• Demonstrate good departmental citizenship
• Prep for taking a leadership role on the Corporate Partners Student Committee

Can I participate in the Corporate Partners sessions and receptions even if I am not interviewing or presenting?

Absolutely.  Attending the career fair and the receptions or delivering a poster are great ways to get to know the Partners and stay connected with research and collaboration within our own department. Networking connections with the Partners will ultimately benefit your career.

Why should I submit my resume to Corporate Partners?

• You can land an internship and get internship credit towards your degree. See the Graduate Student Handbook for details. 
• Even if you are not currently seeking a job or internship, it never hurts to be on a company’s radar.  Some partners are looking for qualified candidates with the right mix of technical and communication skills a year or more in advance of a position opening. You want to be “the one to watch."

What types of posters are presented at Corporate Partners?

• There are 3 categories of posters: Internships, Research, and Collaboration (SAIG, volunteer work, grant work with other departments, etc. – typically applying statistics).
  • If you want to present but are not sure where your topic fits, talk to one of the Corporate Partner Committee members and we will help you! There is a high chance we will find a way for you to present your material.
  • Of course, you must obtain permission from your employer to present an internship poster or your client to present a research poster. Be aware that formal external presentation approval processes for corporate, non-profit or government data analyses make take several weeks to complete. Make sure you obtain permission and allow a suitable amount of time for approvals; plan the approval process into your timeline. Failure to obtain formal approval to present will result in your poster being withdrawn from the session.