PROCTORVILLE — It’s a chance to hone those skills vital for when they get out of college. That’s the purpose behind the upcoming Networking Night Thursday, April 18, at Ohio University Southern Proctorville Center.

“This will get them thinking about their careers and their future,” said Sarah Kyllo, student services specialist at the center. “We are hoping our current students will be able to come here and work with alumni and other business professionals.”

Networking Night will start at 5:30 p.m. with a 45-minute social time where students can meet informally with professionals.

“We will be having people from foster care, banking and law,” Kyllo said.

Then at 6:15 p.m. will be a panel discussion with Rob Johnson of WSAZ-TV, Julie Terry, marketing director at River’s Bend Health Care, Massie Boster from City National Bank and Viviane Vallance from the Lawrence Economic Development Corp.

“They will tell how they got to their jobs, where they are now on their career path and then open it up to questions,” Kyllo said.

Among topics on the table will be how to network, how to present oneself at an interview and how to use social media to job hunt.

“For some of our new students it could get the idea in their head that they should start thinking about careers,” Kyllo said. “For students closer to graduation it’s a chance to start collecting business cards and start making contacts.”