PEMBROKE — The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Career Center will host the Professional and Career Development Institute on Saturday.

The institute is a free, daylong, conference-style event for The University of North Carolina at Pembroke students and alumni. Sessions will include career skills workshops, guest speakers and hot topic breakout sessions.

This year’s theme is “Opening Doors to Your Future” and will feature guest speakers who are on the other side of the interview table.

“Students need to hear directly from the source — the recruiters,” said Galissa Graves, Professional and Career Development Institute coordinator. “They keep hearing about the bad economy and feel like a good job is out of reach.”

Additional breakout topics include: resume writing; job searching; interviewing; effective communication; graduate school;social media etiquette; and making career transitions.

Aneita Emerson, a graduate student who has attended in the institute in the past, said: “It was extremely helpful for me. Halfway through the first workshop I was wondering how I could let everyone know how beneficial the information is that I was getting. Every junior and senior, even graduate students and underclassmen, should have been there.”

For information and to register, visit http://uncp.edu/career/pcdi.

The Career Center The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Career Center provides career development services and activities for all students and alumni. The Career Center offers services to assist students in clarifying their career choices, defining their job search strategies, and pursuing internship/co-op, employment, and/or graduate school opportunities. Call 910-521-6270 or visit the Chavis University Center, Suite 210 to make an appointment.