Southern Oregon University’s Office of Career Preparation will be hosting a Career and Internship Fair on Tuesday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rogue River Room of the Stevenson Union.
The event is aimed at giving SOU students a chance to get a career after graduation, an internship or even a summer job. Over 36 employers from around the country will be there, including major companies such as Verizon, and they are looking to hire students who make a great first impression and are willing to put themselves out there.
Max Brooks, SOU’s career preparation coordinator and event organizer, recommends students should be as prepared as they can. Make sure to bring a few resumes to hand out, Brooks said, dress appropriately and have something to say about yourself.
“It’s an investment for employers to come to the fair,” he says. “SOU is a resource for the region.”
This is a great opportunity for students to get a feel for what’s out there and make connections, he said.
Along with the career fair, there will be a number of seminars and other events happening around campus over the next two weeks. These sessions are geared toward preparing students to know what to expect at the fair and how to present themselves appropriately.
“I guarantee you will stand out if you take the time to prepare and even research the companies before you come,” Brooks says.
At past career fairs, up to 75 percent of employers made some sort of offer to students. Last year in particular, the satisfaction rate of both employers and students who showed up was high, Brooks says. Brooks promises that you should expect to see similar results this year as there will be a few more employers and hopefully even more students attending.
There will also be an opportunity at the fair to win an iPad Mini. Bring a resume, write down the names of the employers you talk to on the back and drop it off in the designated box. A winner will be chosen at random.
“If you are nervous just come to the seminars or come talk to me in the Career Preparation Office,” Brooks says.
Otherwise, he says “employers are excited to meet you and I hope students are equally excited.”
