Students will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with potential employers at the fourth annual all-campus job fair hosted by Career Services. The fair is set for Friday, September 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Searle Center.
The job fair is a way for Career Services to market Hillsdale students to employers, which can be particularly difficult for Hillsdale students, according to Student Affairs Mentor and junior Therese Ens.
“It’s hard when you’re in the middle of nowhere to get the opportunity to connect one-on-one with employers,” she said.
It also allows employers to understand the high caliber of Hillsdale students. Ens said the employers who come to the fair are looking specifically for students with a liberal arts degree and come actively recruiting Hillsdale graduates and current students.
While career services hosts a classical school job fair toward the end of the spring semester, this is the only job fair of the year which welcomes students of any career interest.
Students can register for the fair on Handshake up until the day of the event, but Ens recommends preparing as early as possible. If they have time, she said it would be best for students to research the employers who will be attending, but at the very minimum students ought to bring their resume into Career Services for editing. Students can then come with copies of their polished resume to the job fair. They are also encouraged to dress business formal to the event.
According to Director of Employer Relations Johnny Quint, about a quarter are returning businesses, such as General Motors, Stryker, and Quicken Loans.
Quint said the job hunt can be frustrating when you’re one of many in a pool of applicants, so making a connection prior to applying for a job helps students stand out. Forming human interaction with potential employers increases the likelihood of making it from the resume phase to the interview phase.
In order for the interaction to be most memorable and positive, Quint said students need to know something about the company. Looking over employers on Handshake will benefit students in discussion. Rather than students asking employers what they do, employers want to see you know what they do and will ask students about their interests and abilities.
Kevin Curby ‘19 secured his job as an associate banker at Quicken Loans through attending the job fair last fall. He said the fair provided him the first step to what is now his post-graduate career.
“The career fair gives you an excellent opportunity to meet people who might end up giving you a job and help you begin your career,” Curby said.
In addition to the 44 employers who will be at the job fair, there will also be five graduate school programs and 12 law schools. All are listed on Handshake.
