Upcoming employment fair an opportunity worth pursuing

submitted by Mike Major

April 7, 2008 —

This Friday, over 100 employers will be on campus in the Ryder Center attending the University-wide Employment and Networking Fair from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Once again, our list of employers that will be recruiting is incredible. But don't take my word for it, come out and see for yourself.

Obviously, if you are a senior and will be graduating this year (May, August or December), this event is ideal for you as you go through the job search process. However, note that the name of the event is Employment and Networking Fair. This implies a much larger audience - the entire campus of SVSU. Regardless of your major or class standing, there will be at least one employer at the event who would like to meet you. I guarantee it.

Let me provide a personal example of why the fair is worth your time. My friend Chris, who graduated in December 2006 with a B.B.A-M.B.A degree combination from the College of Business and Management, was still seeking employment at the time of last year's fair. On the day before the event, I called to remind him. His reply to me was "Well, I don't think I am going to come. I have to watch my son all day and I'm just not into the whole job fair thing." Knowing the potential benefits of the fair, I used my powers of persuasion to convince him to leave his son with a sitter for one hour and attend the event. He reluctantly agreed to do this and arrived at the event with a nice, pressed business suit and copies of his resume ready to go. Now he has a full-time job and is making over $50,000 a year because he made a connection at the fair. He recently told me "if it wasn't for you convincing me to go to that fair, I wouldn't have the job I have today." Unfortunately, I do not know all of you on a personal level but trust me, the fair could produce similar results for you. Stories like this happen every year.

Several weeks ago I was given the opportunity from the Vanguard staff to write an article discussing the benefits of relevant experience on your resume. In short, employers want to hire people who have experience within their field. This fair will provide our underclassmen the opportunity to discuss co-op and internship opportunities with several employers. Plus, companies are looking to identify the star students early on, and continually track their progress throughout their college education. For an underclassman, this fair can lead toward co-op, internship, seasonal employment, or other supplemental income that will help throughout their education.

There are a few things to remember about attending a job fair. First, professional dress is required. This usually indicates at least a shirt and tie for men and slacks and a nice blouse for women. Since employers will be meeting a lot of students that day, make sure you have a copy of your resume for them to hold onto. Greet everyone you meet that day with a firm handshake and a smile. Maintain eye contact during conversations and be sure to listen carefully to questions that you are being asked. A list of employers is available at www.svsu.edu/careers, so do some research on companies that are of special interest to you. Employers like to talk with students who know something about their organization. Any research that you do will show interest and impress the employer. Make sure you collect business cards and send thank you notes to anyone you meet and would be interested in pursuing a career within that organization. This will keep your name fresh in their mind.

Who knows, maybe this could be your year to be one of the many success stories that come out of the fair. See you there!

Mike Major
Career Planning and Placement