2008 Winter - University Of Southern Indiana

The Northwestern Mutual Interview Room is available to employers recruiting on campus and is used for mock interviews that help studentspolish their interviewing skills.Updated Career Services space includesNorthwestern Mutual Interview RoomGreater interviewing capacity inthe newly renovated and relocatedOffice of Career Servicesand Placement in the Orr Centerincludes a room equipped for mockinterviews where students can polishtheir skills in preparation for actual jobinterviews.The mock interview room wasmade possible by a gift to the USIFoundation from the NorthwesternMutual Financial Network, EvansvilleGroup. Norman B. Miller ’77 is directorand financial advisor.The Northwestern MutualInterview Room is among attractivenew spaces available to recruiters andjob candidates and provides videotapingcapability that allows students to recordand review their practice interviews.Philip L. Parker, director of USICareer Services and Placement, andother professional staff in CareerServices often conduct mock interviewsto give students practice for actual jobinterviews. Some employers also volunteertime to conduct mock interviewsfor students nearing graduation.Parker said, “Students need to polishtheir interview skills. They need tobe able to tell the story of their accomplishments,skills, and experience toprospective employers.”The gift from Northwestern Mutualalso funded new software that allowsstudents to participate in a virtualinterview through digital Web cam.The student’s responses to interviewquestions are recorded. Students canthen meet with a career advisor toreview the recorded interview andreceive feedback that will strengthenand enhance the way they presentthemselves and respond in an actualinterview.With a special code students canaccess the virtual interview software attheir convenience from their personalcomputers and come into the Office ofCareer Serivces at a later time to reviewthe tape with a career advisor.Miller said, “The Evansville Groupof the Northwestern Mutual FinancialNetwork is truly committed to highereducation in Evansville and to USI.This gift was a way for us to show ourlong-term commitment to the University.”Miller said Northwestern has hadUSI interns since 1973. The companyplans to use the new room for interviewinginternship candidates and willprovide professionals from its staff toconduct mock interviews.A plaque on the mock interview roomrecognizes the gift of NorthwesternMutual Financial Network, EvansvilleGroup. From left are Philip L. Parker,director of USI Career Services andPlacement; Dr. Robert W. Parrent,USI vice president for Student Affairs;Norman B. Miller ’77, NMFN directorand financial advisor; and hisson, Joshua E. Miller ’02, NMFNcollege unit director.December 20078University of Southern Indiana