Career Insight
Ringling College’s annual Career Insight event brings professional artists and company representatives (including Ringling College alumni) from a variety of backgrounds together on one day to share experiences, creative expertise, and industry insights.
The event provides an opportunity to network with working professionals from a variety of art and design fields. Invited guests (many of whom are alumni) are available at individual tables to meet with students, review work, assist with career planning, and ease the transition from school to work.
All students are encouraged to attend and alumni, employers, artists, and other professionals are invited to participate as table hosts. The event is held on campus each February and is hosted by Career Services.
Contact
Center for Career Services
941-359-7502
talent@ringling.edu
Career Insight 2023
Keynote Speaker: Sidney Clifton
Emmy-nominated producer Sidney Clifton has more than 20 years of experience as an executive producer, director, and creative executive overseeing animated, mixed-media, and live-action content. She has produced hundreds of hours of episodic and longform content. A partial list is available on her Internet Movie Database (IMDb) webpage.
Clifton currently serves as a producer at The Jim Henson Company and senior consultant with Black Women Animate Studios. In her role as mentor and recruiter, she has been a featured presenter and guest at colleges and universities across North America. She has given commencement addresses at Idyllwild Arts Academy and Ringling College.
Clifton’s passion for developing and supporting the underserved community of writers, artists, storytellers, and creators was the catalyst for launching The Clifton House, a writer’s and artist’s workshop and retreat space at her childhood home in Baltimore, Maryland–the home she shared with her five siblings and parents, educator/activist Fred J. Clifton and National Book Award winning poet and author Lucille Clifton.
Register to Attend
Students and Alumni
Career Insight provides students and alumni with an opportunity to practice their professional skills and explore career and internship opportunities aligned with their professional interests.
Professionals and Organizations
Career Insight provides an opportunity for professionals to connect with Ringling College’s talented art and design students and alumni.
FAQs
The Career Insight event is presented to Ringling College students and alumni to address practical concerns confronting designers and artists today. This annual event provides an opportunity to network with working professionals from a variety of art and design fields. Invited guests (many of whom are alumni) are available at individual tables to meet with students individually or in a group, review work, assist with career planning, and ease the transition from school to work.
All students (from any major or class year) are encouraged to attend and take advantage of the opportunity. Attendees can stop by and enjoy Career Insight in the moment or come prepared with a resume and digital portfolio.
We’ll begin with a welcome and address from the keynote speaker, followed by a lunch break with food vendors (free!). Tables will be set up throughout the first and second floors of the library, as well as on the back terrace, hosted by companies, professionals, and alumni. They are there to help you practice your professional skills when you make your introductions, listen to discussions, and create important connections for your future. Some of these table hosts may have jobs or internships available or know someone who does. Enjoy some fun, new components this year: Have a professional photo taken for your LinkedIn profile at the photobooth; win prizes and get a t-shirt; de-stress with activities from Health Services and Rec and Wellness.
We would love for you to stop by the event regardless, but we know some folks would prefer to prepare in advance.
Here are a few pointers for the event so you make a great first impression:
- Dress and conduct yourself professionally.
- Prepare some questions ahead of time. Questions can be anything you’re curious about, but here are some conversation starters:
- What was the process you used to find your first job out of college?
- What is it like to work at your company?
- What was the interview process like at your company?
- Is your company hiring or do you have connections at companies that are?
- How would you describe a typical day at your company?
- Ask for contact information, a LinkedIn connection, or a business card so you can say “thank you for your time” after the event
- Look up the connections you made on LinkedIn and easily request a connection with that “thank you.”
We will have designated rooms for companies and alumni who are unable to attend in person. You can sign up for times to sit in on these zoom sessions.
Career Insight 2022
Check out some images from last years Career Insight:
