If you're stressing trying to find a summer job or snatch a last-minute internship under your belt before you graduate, don't miss your chance to find employers who are looking for Longwood students to fill positions that may just appeal to you. Today, Feb. 15, in Blackwell Hall from 12-4 p.m., the Job and Internship Fair returns again to Longwood with many more opportunities available to students.
On the Longwood website, the Academic and Career Advising Center (ACAC) provides tips as to how to present oneself and what to prepare for on the day of the Job and Internship Fair. The ACAC recommended that students "review the list of employers attending, prepare multiple copies of your resume, schedule a mock interview, attend resume, interviewing and job fair workshops offered," and "choose professional attire" before the fair. Overall, the best piece for students is to create the best first impression possible.
The ACAC provided the opportunity for students to register for the fair beforehand to be able to have the opportunity to receive a free professional name badge for the day of the event, featuring the student's name, graduation year, major and other information.
On the day of the event, each student should expect to first sign in and then receive information at the Student Check-in. On the Long wood website, it is suggested that students send thank you notes to recruiters after the event. When introducing oneself to recruiters, telling them about one's career interests is also suggested.
Students are also given the opportunity to complete an evaluation form of the event to provide any comments, suggestions or critiques of the event.
A list of the employers available at the day of the event is available on the Longwood website, including, but not limited to, AFLAC, Oakland School, the Virginia State Police and Kroger Mid-Atlantic. With the websites of each company easily accessible, information as to what majors each company is looking for is also available.
Students should not be discouraged if they think they won't be able to find an employer due to their major. Almost all of the employers attending the fair are open to all majors.
At the previous Job and Internship Fair in September 2011, Lynne Estes, recruiting coordinator and office manager of the Academic and Career Advising Center, told The Rotunda that the biggest hurdle to the Job and Internship Fair is raising Longwood students' awareness of the opportunities.
Estes added that opportunities are available year-long at the Academic and Career Advising Center, saying, "There are a number of options. I guess if you could be really thorough, you can make an appointment with one of our counselors and talk specifically about [your] major and [your] strong suits ... and then go from there as far as developing [your] own skills and developing a resume, develop ing interviewing skills, networking skills [and] feeling comfortable."
"Having such a wide variety of quality employers coming to cam pus to meet students allows me to jump start the job search process before I graduate. Employers at the job fairs offer information about their company and they can become good contacts to finding a job. It makes me less nervous about searching for jobs when the employ ers come to campus to meet me," said junior Daniel Hughes on the Longwood website.
Senior Alexa Boucher said, "I know that I have a job waiting for me when I get back. Definitely a change for me in what I was thinking about doing after college. Most importantly, the university brings the job personnel and opportunities to you! Go for five min utes and it could be a great decision," on the Longwood website.
If you still feel a little directionless and still can't seem to find the occupation or internship that you feel is right for you after attend ing the Job and Internship Fair, feel free to go online to Longwood's CareerConnect website to view at www.longwood.educareer/26863.htm.
If you are interested in making yourself a more desirable candi date for employers, feel free to attend workshops organized by the Academic and Career Advising Center, ranging in topics from in terview skills, resume tips and information to know when applying for graduate school. Dates and times for available workshops can be found online at www.longwood.edu/career.
