Employers are using career fairs to attract and screen possible candidates.
And on May 2, from 12-4 p.m. in Building 12, more than 65 organizations will be brought to Sinclair for the 13th annual Career Exploration and Job Fair to connect students, alumni and the community with possible employment.
The fair is open to the public with the goal of having students network with potential employers.
“The Career Fair allows students to gain exposure with employers in the community,” said Career Services Manager Matt Massie. “It’s also a way for employers to make their presence known and to share open positions within their organization. This is a good way for our students and graduates to connect with employers.”
Networking, dressing professionally, as well as having a solid resume are possible ways to get hired and stand out among the crowd, Lindsay Tate, career specialist, said. She recommends that students arrive at noon to the fair, so that they have enough time to check out all the organizations.
But Massie said that time constraints shouldn’t discourage students from attending.
“It is still acceptable for the student to come if they have to arrive later,” Massie said. “Those recruiters are going to be excited to be there and see [the student], so don’t think that just because you couldn’t come at the start, that you’ve lost your chance,” Massie said.
The key to making the fair a success is involvement from students, graduates and the community.
“If we don’t have the students at the career fair, then the employers aren’t happy and they don’t come back,” Massie said. “We want to drive as many students to this as possible for the employers to be happy and realize that they are making a good investment with spending their time at Sinclair. Because they have a choice—they can go to other colleges and universities but they come to us because they know how good our students are.”
Career Services, in Building 10 Room 312, can help students prepare or critique their resumes. Before the fair, career specialist can help students build their confidence or reduce their anxiety, as well as learn how to successfully navigate a career fair.
“We can help you with how to dress, what to say and how to follow up,” Tate said. “We recommend that all students come, even if you are not looking for a job; that is why it is a career exploration as well because it never hurts to start looking.”
More than 400 students were at the fair last year, according to Margaret Bailey, clerk typist, who organizes the career fair every year. Bailey is expecting a high turnout for this year as well. A list of companies that will be at the fair can be found at www.sinclair.edu/services/career.
“The thing about jobs now is that everything is done online, so you don’t get that face-to-face attention,” Bailey said. “First impressions are lasting impressions.”
Bailey, Massie and Tate all stressed that students should take advantage of being able to meet employers face-to-face, with 65 employers in a room eager to interact with them.
“The biggest complaint that we’ve had is that employers want to see more — more students and more graduates,” Massie said. “Sinclair is a community college, so we get support from the community in which we reside. This fair is just one way to give back to the community by making this an opportunity for them to benefit as well.”
For more information, contact Career Services at 512-2772.
- Sun. Jul 21st, 2024