APCC 2024 Objectives
Why do we host this each year?
The APCC is an annually recurring conference here at BYU–Hawaii. Each year this conference provides our students dynamic opportunities to meet, network and connect with professionals from Oceania, Asia, Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. As a Career Services department, we acknowledge the educational learning done in the classroom, and as a complementary experience to their education, we have created the APCC conference to allow them to practice their professional skills via this platform.
As our students study and learn amongst their peers that represent over 60+ countries and languages, APCC provides an engaging platform and immersive learning experience to its diverse audience. These experiences help shape our student’s future by making these visiting professionals accessible over a three-day conference hosted here on our campus and at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Events & Activities
Career Fair
APCC brings employers, graduate programs, and other organizations to campus to share job/internship and graduate study opportunities with our students.
As a result of participating in our APCC career and graduate fair, students will be able to:
- Practice, practice, practice, and apply what they are learning in the classroom and at work.
- Demonstrate effective preparedness for meeting professionals.
- Apply their company and graduate program research in a real-world setting.
- Better understand proper dress code and will develop professional self-awareness.
- Research, prepare for interview opportunities, and learn how to outreach and expand their network.
- Present themselves as strong candidates to employers and graduate programs.
- Discover a wide range of career and educational paths available by region, industry/sector, job function, employer,
and university. - Deliver a well prepared and crafted elevator pitch, or ‘Me in 30 seconds’ to introduce themselves and share their
professional brand. - Connect with employers to actively pursue employment and internship opportunities discussed at the career fair.
- Connect with graduate programs to better understand the fit these organizations are looking for and qualifications to
continue their education.
Networking
Events that include opportunities for students, alumni, and professionals to meet and mingle in 1-1 and small group conversations.
As a result of participating in a networking event, students will be able to:
- Effectively express their knowledge, skills, and curiosity to a professional. We want them to experience those
‘cold sweat’ moments of meeting a professional or someone new. - Expand their professional network through in-person, face-to-face interactions.
- Utilize their connections to build a mutually beneficial professional relationship or partnership.
- Better understand who they are and what they are looking for in their next steps after BYU–Hawaii.
They should identify 2-3 items that demonstrate personal fit with different professional roles, universities, companies,
and other organizations. - Reflect on the value of making connections with specific individuals and utilize their in-class learning within a setting
created for them to practice.
General learning and experience
Opportunities for students to visit companies and learn about the people there, the work they do, the employment setting, and more.
As a result of participating in APCC, students will be able to:
- Develop the ability to engage with professionals using appropriate words, industry terminology, tone, and body language.
Developing their self-awareness and ability to prepare for these engagements is an invaluable lesson. - Articulate the interpersonal and technical competencies desired by industries, organization(s) they visit with, and
their professional representatives. - Connect their academic experiences and in-class learning with skills desired by employers.
- Evaluate their fit within organizational cultures, career paths, and specific employment opportunities.
Info Session, Panel, and Alumni Discussions
An opportunity for students to hear perspectives on career and professional success and interact through group question-and-answer sessions.
As a result of participating in info sessions and panel discussions, students will be able to:
- Integrate career interests with real-world experiences that are shared by presenters and panelists.
- Compare their perception of a career interest vs. the realities shared by panelists (e.g., potential schedules, relevant experience, and compensation).
- Analyze both the pros and cons of a potential industry and/or graduate program.
- Learn more about more programs and their fit into these organizations.
- Expand their network with potential resources and/or mentors who participated in panel, info session, and alumni discussions.
Empower Your Dreams Competition
The Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship sponsors the 2024 Ed & Shauna Smith Empower Your Dreams Competition.
- The competition empowers students to build confidence, have experiences, network, expand opportunities, and have a positive impact. There are no registration fees to enter the competition.
Undergraduate Research Conference (URC)
The Undergraduate Research Conference is an annual event at BYU–Hawaii that showcases academic work by students from across campus.
- Interdisciplinary sessions throughout the day feature research paper presentations, research poster sessions, creative projects, and immersive experiences related to the conference theme. Participating in the conference is an excellent way for students to build their research and presentation skills and to professionalize as members of their respective disciplines.
APCC Professional Student Certification
Complete a Canvas course created specifically for career exploration, meeting professionals, interviews, and to prepare to meet attendees of APCC.
As a result of participating in APCC Professional Student Certification, students will be able to:
- Create and update their resume.
- Update and revise their LinkedIn, Handshake, and online profiles.
- Learn and apply networking practices to increase connections.
- Practice mock interviews and elevator pitch.
- Meet with peer network and career mentors to prepare to meet professionals attending APCC 2024.