BEEP helps Claflin students become career-ready

Panther Editor Jaliah Robinson talks with Kendell Monk, senior director of the National Urban League. (Claflin photo by Geoff Henderson)

Many students don’t understand how to navigate a career journey, the National Urban League senior director said.

On Oct. 13 Kendell Monk hosted The Business Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) event at Claflin University. Boeing, UPS and Honda were the three companies represented. The event was held in Ministers’ Hall.

“We wanted to create something meaningful, impactful, relatable, but most importantly convenient for students to get all the information they need to be career ready,” Monk said.

BEEP is a career-readiness and development program from the National Urban League that supports college students within a top-tier, highly targeted university network. The goal of the BEEP program is to empower the next generation of BIPOC to succeed in their professional careers and local communities.

Through the program, students will have access to professional development, mentor opportunities and professionals in their desired careers.

“It is assumed that when you graduate from college, opportunities will be knocking on your door and that’s not always the reality anymore,” Monk said.

 The program aims to expose students to career professionals who look like them to share their stories and give advice that will prepare them for their careers.

Monk hopes that students will see that the doors that historically may have been closed for people of color are now open. He mentioned the pandemic, saying that it showed there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of bringing people together and making people aware of opportunities.

The event also stressed the building of soft, essential skills, along with technical skills in students. These include interview etiquette, networking, self-awareness, navigating diverse spaces, etc.

Monk said there are a lot of outlets to teach the technical side of things, but when it comes to navigating a room or building confidence in networking, it is not often emphasized.

For more information visit beep.nul.org.

The BEEP program featured, from left, Panise Perry, UPS human resources business partner manager; Lauren Rogers, UPS project manager; Jermey Gist, UPS business manager; Kendell Monk, senior director of the National Urban League; Teresa Cadet, sales operation and transportation manager; and Alvina Harrison: Columbia Gateway manager. (Claflin photo by Geoff Henderson)