The Southern University Office of Career Services sponsored its career fair for the spring semester, Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. The event lasted a little over five hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that evening.
Career Services’ spring career fair was the highlight of a weeklong activity schedule aimed at enhancing and promoting student access and exposure to the business world, as well as affording students a chance to explore co-op, internship and permanent employment opportunities.
The week started with a Youth Motivation Task Force that visited select classrooms; followed by an Interview Skills Workshop held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the Stewart Hall Auditorium. US Steel sponsored an information session in the Pinchback Engineering Building.
Career Counseler Tamara Montgomery of Career Services said, “The main purpose of the career fair is to ensure that we (Office of Career Services) do our job of getting companies to know what good, quality students Southern University has to offer.”
Career Services generally hosts career fairs twice a year during the spring and fall semesters, typically in February and September. With a turnout of nearly 90 companies and organizations and the large number of student participation that, according to pre-registration information, surpassed the 700 mark, Career Services is calling the event a success.
Officials in Career Services are not alone when describing the event as a success.
“The Spring 2008 Career Fair was great. I have many interviews and follow-ups scheduled for later this week. I look forward to next semester’s career fair,” said Damarcus Alexander, freshman business marketing major from Baton Rouge.
Following the career fair on Wednesday, students also were allowed access to an information session hosted by Walgreens.
Keith Jacobs, a first year graduate student pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Houston, felt that the career fair was very beneficial and that the number of agencies that contributed to the event was great.
“The companies were really willing to talk to the students and be open to what we (the students) were saying,” said Jacobs.
Joseph Netter, operations supervisor with Kraft Foods, Inc. and one of the many representatives seeking qualified candidates, was pleased with the overall turnout but noted a few flaws.
“I think students need to be better prepared and definitely get more involved with career services. The résumés definitely need to be a whole lot better. Overall career fair was well put together,” said Netter.
Thursday, following the career fair, interviews for companies and agencies such as Dow Chemical, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, National Park Service, Entergy Services, U.S. Steel and Kraft Foods, to name a few, were held in the F.G. Clark Activity Center at various times throughout the day. Today’s events will consist of interviews with agencies such as FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and Parker Hannifin, which concluded the weeklong event.
Career Services provided a presentation schedule for the current spring semester that included the specific times, dates and locations for the various companies that would be visiting the campus. The majors that would be best suited the companies and types of positions available within each agency.
Career Services would like to commend the students for their professional attire, especially the male students, in which there was much improvement. Officials encourage all students to utilize the services offered, which include résumé writing, interview skills and dress for success workshops.
Montgomery deeply expressed the need for students to take advantage of Career Services and would like for students to remember the office’s motto “Suit up for Success,” when entering professional settings.
For more information, contact the Office of Career Services at 225.771.2200.
Categories:
Over 700 attend SU spring job fair
March 10, 2008
Story continues below advertisement
0