Jumpstart Your Career: Career Center gears up for the 39th Annual Career Fair
A college education should provide a pathway to career success and a good job. Why not start your search now with some support from the LBCC Career Center?
Between 80 and 100 employers will gather in the Activities Center on April 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing students the opportunity to meet face-to-face with potential employers and explore future career possibilities.
The list of represented companies includes local businesses, government agencies, health care agencies, manufacturers, welding, farming and staffing agencies. This year some new changes are afoot. There will be a sign-in system for tracking student and community member attendance. Employers will also be organized by the industries and majors they hire from, hopefully creating a simple way for students to connect with the right employers.
“The ultimate purpose of the fair is to help students graduating in the spring to find jobs in their field,” said Marci Johnston, career and employment specialist and the Annual Career Fair coordinator for the past 15 years. “We try to invite employers who hire from a wide variety of our majors, so there’s a variety of industries represented.”
With so many possible employers and employees located in one place, the Career Fair is convenient for job-searching and employee-hiring alike.
Johnston believes it is crucial for students to do preliminary research on the opportunities and employers that await them at the Career Fair. A list of attending employers is provided on the Career Fair website, along with links to their home pages for further research. The Career Fair website also provides a link for “10 Tips For Student Success.”
“Research and target employers you’re interested in pursuing,” said Johnston. “Talk to companies even if you think they wouldn’t have positions for you. You’ll be surprised.”
Students should dress professionally, bring polished resumes and attend the fair with a mind open to possibilities.
“Each organization that participates has a different need,” said Emily Dray, career and employment specialist for the LBCC Career Center.
According to Dray, students shouldn’t assume anything and are encouraged to approach employers even if they are just curious. It’s also a good way to find out any skills or qualities that might benefit their careers that they may not obtain in college.
“You can get the insider tips to be more prepared when you graduate,” said Johnston.
Story by Emily Goodykoontz
