By: Chris Moore. Published: February 11, 2011.
Are you interested in exploring exciting new career opportunities? Are you unsure of how to apply your degree in the working world? Do you want to meet possible employers and discover the world beyond college? If so, you may be interested in the upcoming career fair.
The annual McKendree University Career and Internship Fair will take place on Wednesday Feb. 16 in The Hett Lobby. It will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will be host to a wide variety of businesses interested in college students.
Some of the many companies that will be represented are Aflac, Mutual of Omaha, Pepsi MidAmerica, the United States Army, and Regions Bank, as well as schools such as the University of Illinois Springfield and SIUE Graduate School.
“We have a wide variety [of business at the Career Fair]. Everything from financial services to government agencies,” says Jennifer Pickerell, director of career services at McKendree. “The vast majority are St. Louis based.”
Some might think that the Career Fair is only useful for seniors that are looking for a job immediately after graduation, but that is a misconception. All students, including freshmen, are encouraged to attend and can benefit from exposure to career possibilities.
What should students do to prepare for the Career Fair? Business attire is encouraged, so bust out your nice suits and leave your sweatpants at home. Consider what kinds of businesses you are interested in ahead of time and look into whether or not they will be attending the event. Since bringing a resume along can only help, consider writing one up if you haven’t already. Remember that plain, formal fonts like Times New Roman or Helvetica are standard. Never use Comic Sans for anything you want to present to a prospective employer, as it is considered an unprofessional and frankly unattractive typeset.
While at the fair, remember to be courteous to all representatives. True, it is possible that you may never see that individual again, but there is no guarantee and rudeness can have job repercussions. If the representative offers a business card, accept it. Ask plenty of questions. This not only shows the potential employer that you are interested in the company, but it can give you valuable insight into careers.
Mark Feb. 16 on your calenders for McKendree’s Career Fair!
