MTSU’s Career Development Center welcomed representatives
from more than 40 companies on March 21 as they gathered in the James Union
Building to participate in the spring Internships and Summer Jobs Fair.
All were looking for talented students and graduates to fill
available summer internships or permanent career opportunities. Participants
included recruiters from insurance and financial corporations; media, marketing
and communications companies; and retail, sales and healthcare groups.
While a portion of the businesses had attended the fair
previously, for others, it was the first visit.
Sadie Fowler, editor of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, came
to the fair in hopes of finding people to meet the paper's creative and graphic
design needs as well as to serve as new additions to the features staff.
“You never know when you're going to meet that next rising
star, the perfect candidate for your organization,” Fowler said. “I never pass
an opportunity to talk with students.”
Reagan Poe Collins, general manager of the Ralph Lauren
factory store in Opry Mills mall, has attended other regional job fairs and
explained how they are the best way to meet potential employees.
“A career fair gives you the opportunity to meet people in
person, whereas online it doesn't always translate in the same way,” said
Collins. “We want to go out and hand-select our talent. The more you can get
out in your community and do that, the more successful you're going to be in
your market.”
Companies were searching for candidates to fill specific
positions, including paid and unpaid internships as well as full-time jobs.
Rene Inman, director of recruiting for Capital Financial
Group, said that even though the corporation is offering unpaid summer
internships, there is a potential for long-term employment for those who excel.
“A lot of students like to submit the resumes right here,
and I always accept those and I make notes about which students might be a good
fit with what we're trying to do,” Inman said.
Explaining the opportunity to network at a career fair, she
continued: “People only have one chance to make a first impression, and
employers like to see that students are thinking about future employment. When
they are passing out their resumes, the employers can see that the students are
actually taking steps to be in a place where they can be offered a position.”
Dusty Doddridge, assistant director for employer relations
in the Career Development Center, said he was pleased with the student turnout.
“Research tells us that students with internships fare
better in the initial job search and also have more longevity with their first
employer,” he said.
When asked to give advice to the students who attended the
event, Doddridge said: “After leaving the fair, the No. 1 priority is that we
want them to follow up with the recruiters that they connected with.”
However, he said, he also wants students to know that the
Career Development Center assists MTSU students and alumni during their search
for employment.
“Certainly we want every student to work with us so that we
can help them with their career plans, resumes, interview skills and job search
strategies. That's why we're here.”
Doddridge said students are encouraged to make an
appointment to discuss their career goals, but added that each day the center
makes every effort to accommodate as many people as possible.
Additional information on the Career Development Center and
future job fairs can be found at http://mtsu.edu/career
or by contacting Doddridge at dusty.doddridge@mtsu.edu.
— Lauren Price (news@mtsu.edu)
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