Reported by Heewon Jang
President of Angelo State University YG Group of Austin TX Chapter
Angelo State University’s YG group orchestrated a dynamic and enriching event, the ‘Career Development Workshop’, on March 30th, 2024, aimed at amplifying career trajectories and fostering professional networks for its members. The workshop, which drew approximately 30 KSEA members, featured a lineup of six distinguished speakers representing diverse expertise from both industry and academia.
The event commenced with a captivating field trip to the Concho Valley Solar Farm, generously supported by Korea Midland Power Corporation, America (KOMIPO America). Participants were immersed in the operational intricacies of the solar industry, guided by Mr. Alexander Rangel, the site manager. Mr. Rangel elucidated various aspects of the site’s functioning, spanning from engineering operations to business strategies, offering students a firsthand glimpse into the renewable energy sector’s dynamics.
Transitioning into the workshop’s core sessions, attendees were treated to a trio of insightful speaker sessions. Mr. Hyunha Cho, Director of U.S. Renewables at KOMIPO America, delved into the latest hiring trends and job-seeking strategies in Korea, illuminating concepts like Blind Hiring and the National Career Service exam. His firsthand experiences as an interviewer provided invaluable insights into organizational expectations from prospective candidates.
Following suit, Mr. Joonho Sung, a product manager at Dell Technologies, shared practical tips on preparing for job-seeking endeavors in the United States. Drawing parallels to the game of Tetris, Mr. Sung underscored the importance of resilience and adaptability in navigating career trajectories, resonating particularly with international students. His discourse on crafting resumes and mastering interviews offered attendees actionable strategies for success. Dr. Sibum Sung from the University of Texas, Austin, concluded the speaker sessions with a comprehensive guide on excelling in graduate school admissions. Dr. Sung’s meticulous approach emphasized the significance of tailored application materials and research-focused goals in securing coveted positions. Attendees gleaned invaluable insights into the intricate landscape of graduate studies preparation.
A highpoint of the workshop was the engaging panel discussion, featuring all six mentors. Addressing a myriad of topics ranging from stress management to visa status maintenance, the session fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas between mentors and mentees, enriching perspectives and nurturing a sense of community cohesion.
The workshop culminated in an informal dinner banquet, complemented by ice-breaking games that facilitated organic networking opportunities. The convivial ambiance encouraged open conversations among attendees and speakers, fostering deeper connections within the community.
Post-event feedback underscored the workshop’s resounding success, with attendees lauding the enriching content and networking opportunities. Testimonials echoed sentiments of satisfaction and gratitude towards the organizers, speakers, and sponsors, affirming the event’s profound impact on career aspirations and personal growth. In summary, the ‘Career Development Workshop’ stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of ASU YG, esteemed speakers, and supportive sponsors. As attendees embark on their career journeys armed with newfound insights and connections, the workshop’s legacy resonates as a beacon of empowerment and professional development.
Testimonials of participants
Yejun Na (Angelo State University):
I highly appreciate all of our speakers for preparing the excellent lectures and panel discussions. I enjoyed the panel discussion session, which was truly meaningful, as it helped me organize my concerns and thoughts about my career. Dr. Hong-Gu Kang strongly emphasized, ‘Look far ahead and practice 10,000 times.’ This quote involves a life philosophy he has realized throughout his lifetime. The advice the professor gave to our students felt like a gift to me. His words reassured me, affirming, ‘You’re doing well,’ as I embraced the mindset of always seeking a positive path and focusing on the future without dwelling on each current situation seriously. Although I haven’t been able to practice 10,000 times yet, I would like to be committed to giving my best in my work, whatever it is, and maintaining an attitude of integrity, even when no one is watching.
SeungJun Ryu (Angelo State University):
Specifically, I appreciated having the field trip at Concho Valley Solar Farm. It was a truly thrilling experience to look at the site firsthand and be told about actual experiences and knowledge from the field manager. I could deepen my understanding of the solar farm system in more specific ways. I have learned various aspects about solar panels, such as the ‘photoelectric effect’ and how solar power is generated using the semiconductor. Another thing that interested me was the use of sheep as a method of grass maintenance. It was interesting that their use not only minimizes manpower but also helps with handling expenses. Overall, this workshop was very interesting and practical, and I would love to have more opportunities like this in the future.
Dohyeong Kwon (Angelo State University):
Lately, I had concerns about pursuing graduate school after graduation, but fortunately, I was able to obtain valuable information on how to prepare for graduate school admissions from Dr. Sibum Sung. Firstly, I learned about the significance of acquiring research experience during my undergraduate years. Dr. Sung emphasized that during summer break, many schools offer numerous research opportunities across the United States, which encouraged me to actively seek such opportunities in the future. Also, I realized the importance of having a clear purpose for attending graduate school. Setting a specific reason for attending graduate school is important to be sure that I don’t waste my twenties studying without direction. Overall, this experience helped me a lot to reorganize my strategy for pursuing graduate school in the right direction.
Seoyeon Choi (Angelo State University):
The workshop event proved to be highly valuable to us due to its focus on topics that are highly relevant and interesting to college students, covering a variety of topics from job seeking in Korea and the United States to graduate school admissions. Personally, I found the discussions on job seeking in both Korea and the United States to be especially helpful since I am considering both career tracks. Specifically, I gained very useful insights into how to prepare for job interviews and the actual expectations of interviewers on candidates, helping me to have a clearer view of how I should approach mindset and prepare for job interviews from now on.
Yujin An (Jeju National University): I could tell the ASU YG committee put in a lot of hard work in organizing the event, and the Austin Chapter was very supportive of this event. Everything ran very smoothly, which helped us to enjoy it conveniently. The opportunity to meet experts from different professional fields was invaluable, without a doubt, as I could gain different perspectives and helpful advice from them. This event has indeed helped me prepare for my career after graduation in a more specific way. Also, the social hours were fun, and the dinners were amazing!
Event Overview
| ASU Career Development Workshop | |||
| SESSION 1 | |||
| 9:50 – 10:10 | Registration | ||
| 10:10 – 10:30 | Venue Transition | ||
| 10:30 – 11:45 | Field Trip (San Angelo Concho Valley Solar Farm ) | Mr. Hyunha Cho (Director of U.S. Renewables at KOMIPO America) Mr. Alexander Rangel (Site Director at Concho Valley Solar Farm) | |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | Venue Transition | ||
| SESSION 2 | |||
| 12:00 – 12:45 | Lunch Break | ||
| 12:45 – 13:00 | Introduction | Heewon Jang (KSEA ASU YG Student President) | |
| 13:00 – 15:30 | Session 2.1 | Speaker Session 1: Latest Hiring Trend in Korea | Mr. Hyunha Cho (Director of U.S. Renewables at KOMIPO America) |
| Speaker Session 2: How to Succeed in Job Seeking in the US | Mr. Joonho Sung (Product Manager (Software & Experiences) at Dell) | ||
| Speaker Session 3: Applying to graduate schools | Dr. Sibum Sung (Professor at the University of Texas Austin) | ||
| 15:30 – 15:40 | Break Time | ||
| 15:40 – 17:00 | Session 2.2 | Panel Discussion | Dr. Hong-Gu Kang (Professor at Texas State University) Mr. Hyunha Cho (Director of U.S. Renewables at KOMIPO America) Dr. In-Hyouk Song (Professor at Texas State University) Mr. Joonho Sung (Product Manager (Software & Experiences) at Dell) Dr. Sibum Sung (Professor at the University of Texas Austin) Dr. Soyoon Kum (Professor at Angelo State University) |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | Session 2.3 | Ice-breaker Game | ASU YG Committees |
| 17:30 – 18:30 | Dinner | ||
| 18:30 – 19:00 | Closing | ||
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