Numbers Night draws crowd

CSB+SJU held its annual Numbers Night in the Guild Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 16. This year, 40 employers and organizations, mostly accounting firms, were available to students interested in learning more about number-based careers, including what they might entail and offering possible internship opportunities.

Before the Numbers Night event, a Networking Skills Workshop was held in the Quad, offering resources and a space to practice networking. This event, as well as the actual Numbers Night event, was promoted to all students, but was geared towards business majors and students interested in pursuing entrepreneurship at the beginning of the year.

This event promoted potential business opportunities and gave students a chance to network and explore potential career options.

“The world of business is changing constantly, and I want to make sure that the people and organizations I choose to associate with have something valuable to offer to me, their employees and their consumers,” said CSB senior global business and first-time Numbers Night attendee Kimberly Mendoza. The event also encourages students to build their professional skills and helps them identify areas to focus on.

“Once I graduate, I want to build on my project management skills to help build my family business back home [in Mexico]. I will take on job opportunities that benefit me in the long run and serve a purpose to my goals,” Mendoza said.

Along with professional skills, students can apply for resume- building opportunities like internships and other programs.

“I’m looking to get an internship in D.C. this summer. I would love to be a musician after school, but if that doesn’t work out, I either want to work in the M&A sphere or become a pilot,” SJU junior accounting student and two-time Numbers Night attendee Max Reis said.

Students don’t always get accepted to the opportunities they have applied to. The annual event gives them a chance to try again and build relationships with potential future employers. A list of the attending companies is sent out ahead of time for attendees to research and prepare questions. Many students prepare an “elevator pitch” to present themselves to the companies.

“I have to be smart about this. I’m a finance major, and not every employer wants someone with my major. I took notes on different organizations and focused on the ones that align with what I want to do, my skillset and qualifications,” Khalid Bello, SJU senior finance major, said. “I went to NumbersNight in the past but didn’t get an opportunity. It discouraged me from applying for more, but I knew I had to change that this year.”