Thank you to all faculty and staff who reached out to students the past few days! Your efforts helped us fill several mock interview and resume review spots.
We are in the home stretch, but we still need your help: 60+ open slots remain unfilled for Cardinal Career Prep, and the student sign-up deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30, at 12:00 PM (Noon).
Our visiting alumni and employer partners—including leaders from Fastenal, Northwestern Mutual, Mayo Clinic, Cigna, Knights of Columbus Insurance, Emplify Healthsystem, the City of Winona, and more—are ready to support our students. However, we are at risk of having to cancel sessions with these visiting professionals if we cannot fill these remaining spots immediately.
We know a student’s decision to sign up almost always comes down to a personal nudge from a professor, coach, advisor, supervisor, or mentor. Your direct encouragement today will be the deciding factor.
Key Messaging to Relieve Student Hesitation
When encouraging your students today, please help break down these common barriers:
-
No Exact Major Match Required: Students hesitate when they don’t see their exact major listed. Remind them that in real-world hiring, interviewers rarely share an applicant’s exact academic background. This event is a low-stakes environment to practice general communication, answer behavioral questions, and build confidence with real managers and HR experts.
-
Low Time Commitment: Sessions are only 30 minutes long—a student can easily complete a mock interview or resume review (or both!) in an hour or less between classes.
-
Open & Beneficial to ALL Class Years: First-year students build their initial resume foundation, while seniors fine-tune their pitch for upcoming post-grad opportunities.
Quick Actions You Can Take Today
-
Faculty: Post a quick announcement with the Handshake Link on your Canvas course pages or take 60 seconds at the start of class today to highlight the event.
-
Coaches & Athletic Staff: Remind student-athletes that practical interview experience is just as essential as game prep. If possible, consider adjusting practice times slightly so team members can participate.
-
Student Affairs, Residence Life & Campus Leaders: Mention the noon tomorrow deadline during housing/floor meetings, club gatherings, advising sessions, or mentoring check-ins today.
-
Student Employee Supervisors: Encourage your student workers to attend and consider allowing them time away from their shift to participate.
Key Event Details
-
What: Cardinal Career Prep (Mock Interviews & Resume Reviews)
-
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
-
Where: David R. Thies Arena (Winona Campus)
-
Student Registration Deadline: Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30 at 12:00 PM (Noon)
-
Direct Sign-Up Link: Register on Handshake
Please help us honor the commitment of our visiting employers and alumni by ensuring every single spot is filled. Thank you for stepping up to make this transformative experience possible for our students!


