EMU job fair connects students with career opportunities

EMU job fair connects students with career opportunities

Eastern Michigan University held a job fair on Oct. 28 in the Student Center Ballroom. Over 60 employers lined the room as students dressed for success networked and handed out their resumes. Ready rooms were available to students to learn how to talk to employers, practice handshakes and get free professional headshots. 

April Calkovsky, career coach at EMU, said that coming to job fairs is important because they offer connection and a chance to develop professional relationships with people in certain fields. The main goal of EMU’s job fairs is for students to directly interact with employers, Calkovsky said

EMU also offers boutique fairs that are more focused on a certain area. Previously this semester, EMU has hosted STEM and accounting specific job fairs. Calkovsky said that employers are trending back to these boutique fairs, so EMU plans to continue hosting them

Calkovsky explained in the past few years, job fairs have become more crucial to the student population. Calkovsky said the pandemic hurt people’s ability to get out and be social, and also to learn professional networking skills. 

“We notice students having more hesitancy coming to job fairs and not really understanding the benefits of that,” Calkovsky said. “We really want students to come; we have the ready room to help practice and relax before talking to employers. We don’t want students to go into a scary situation feeling unsupported.”

The Career Development Center at EMU encourages students to come to job fairs to get a sense of the space and learn more about what support is offered. 

EMU student Aylin Amaro said she came to the job fair to look at careers that she’s interested in and get her resume out there to employers to look at. 

“It makes me feel more prepared for interviews and gets us ready and prepared for when we have to talk about our background and find a good job,” Amaro said. 

Another student, Emma Moore, said she was hoping to walk away with career choices and ideas that she may not have thought of before

“It’s much easier because it’s on campus, so it’s more accessible to students. They do a whole debriefing before you enter to get you ready for what to expect,” Moore said. 

EMU has several reny Hall. The center has three career coaches and three job and internship specialists. Calkovsky said the career coaches can help students figure out who they are, what students want to do, and how students are going to get there.  

The job and internship specialists can help students tune their resumes, cover letters and interview techniques and preparation. They will also help with LinkedIn profiles, networking, and how to do an internship and job search. The Career Development Center serves EMU alumni for life; people can come and use these re

Another rey Hall 251. Students can come and get at least four items of professional clothing each semester, and this, as well as all UACDC services, continues after students graduate

The next fair at EMU is the internship fair is Feb. 10 in the Student Center Ballroom from 2-5 p.m. The spring job fair will be held March 10 from 3-6 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. 

Source: www.easternecho.com