The Professional Development Program (PDP) is designed to enrich the graduate classroom experience and prepare students for success in the competitive financial services job search process. This required component to Villanova’s MSF summer semester provides students with the confidence and skills needed to successfully navigate the fall recruitment cycle.
Included in the program are a series of workshops, such as networking, interview techniques and resume building, as detailed below.
Additionally, the program is composed of panels featuring leading industry professionals as well as VSB alumni who return to share their experiences. Finally, the program allows students an inside look at how major financial institutions operate through our annual "Working on Wall Street Day."
Professional Development Programs Include:
- Building a Recruitment Plan & Strategy
This workshop identifies the best practices for developing a job search strategy and what students should be doing during the summer to prepare for on-campus recruiting in the beginning of the fall semester.
- Resume Workshop
Hear firsthand what makes a resume stand out and the importance of keeping resumes updated for networking purposes. This workshop allows you the opportunity to have an individual resume review with industry professionals and representatives from the Career Center.
- Networking Skills Workshop
Interactive networking workshop and presentation, covering the basics of making professional connections, proper networking etiquette, and the value of joining professional associations.
- Working on Wall Street
Corporate site visits followed by a panel and networking reception hosted by the Villanova Financial Club, a group of alumni who work on and around Wall Street.
- Interview Skills Workshop
Learn interview techniques from an expert in the financial services area.
- Mock Interview
"Practice with the Pros" are mock interviews with real-time feedback from financial services professionals.
- Contact Mentor
Each student will be matched with a mentor based on his or her area of interest within the finance industry. In mid-June, you will receive your mentor’s name and contact information.
