Visualize. Utilize.Prioritize.: Southern University Spring Career Day 2016

The Southern University Department of Career Services held their Spring 2016 Career Fair in the F. G. Clark Activity Center for students to experience and hopefully earn an opportunity for internship or job. This semester, there were 57 venders invited to interact and give students of attendance the opportunity to receive one on one interviews, and possibly secure an occupation upon graduation from Southern University. Of those vendors, there were seven new businesses that attended the career fair for the first time such as: Bancorp South, Brocade Communications, Federal Aviation Administration, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Pasco School District, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and USDA Food Safety and Inspections Services.
According to the Director of Career Services, Tamara Foster-Montgomery, the department received a plethora of feedback from the approximate four hundred students in attendance. Montgomery would also like to high-light and thank the sponsors, who helped make the day possible such as Exxon Mobil, Procter and Gamble, Coca Cola, and Sasol.
“The money donated by the career day sponsors will be allocated towards helping the center to provide the students with professional development programs in our leadership events.”
Montgomery also said that this year a newly implemented feature was added to the vendors experience, which allowed vendors to sign in using Apple’s electronic tablet devices.
“Our career was one hundred percent electronic. It was a much faster procedure and our employers seemed to love that new feature.”
During the Career Fair in the fall, students will be able to download an app from their app stores, which will allow them to track and locate vendor booths that relates to their major. The app will also allow students to click on any pinned booth and receive information pertaining to that vendor This newly added shortcut will give the students time to preview each company’s information and website to decide which booths to visit.
Although some students attended the fair, some were turned around due to incoherence of the dress code. However, Montgomery is encouraging the student that did not attend this semester’s fair to take advantage of all the help that is provided by the department. The Career Services Center is located in Harris Hall, suite 1100 and is open Monday through Friday from 8a.m. until 5p.m. The center will work with students in a “hands on” training using, using special interviewing techniques, dress attire, elevator pitch techniques and mock interviews every Friday. During the visit students will receive a jump drive with resume examples to help build a presentable resume for employers to receive. Students are also encouraged to sign up for the College Career Center application, which will help students stay informed and ready the next fair. Montgomery, referring back to the app mentioned that there will also be a tab titled “Jobs 4 Jags.”
“One highlighted tab in the app is “Jobs 4 Jags”, which will aid students who are looking for job or internship,” said Montgomery. Also Montgomery is currently working with the Mass Communication department on career related videos to encourage students to visit and utilize the Career Services Center.
Some students in attendance said that they enjoyed their exposure from the employers and look forward to working with them in the near future. Junior Business Management major Bobby Jones of Harlem, New York says that the career fair was a good experience in the sense that it helped him gain insight on the working world as for what businesses are currently looking for in future applicants. Freshman Business Management major Micah Pegues of Beaumont, Texas commented saying that she gained much knowledge from the fair in general and looks forward to participating in the upcoming Career Fair in September. Freshman Accounting and Finance major Carldrick Slaughter of Baton Rouge, Louisiana also had much to say of his experience.
“My first experience of the Career Fair was amazing. As a freshman, I have an early advantage and with this advantage I can work to make my GPA higher than a 3.0. The feedback from the companies was great and they told me to keep moving in the direction that I