Job fairs share opportunities for Tarleton students

BY BRENNA DEMPSEY / Executive Producer

Job fairs and career readiness go hand in hand.

There is a lot to learn from attending job fairs because it will help students identify fields that might spark interest for them and provide a way for students to interact with the companies associated with them.

Lindsey Marek is the director of Tarleton State University’s Career Services, and her department hosts all of the job fairs on campus.

This helps to reduce the uncertainty that some students feel when they think about what they want to do once they graduate.

“This is just an opportunity for students to kind of get a feel for what careers they may want to pursue after college as well as just trying to figure out companies they would like to work for,” Marek said.

The confidence that students gain from getting to talk to different employers is also a benefit of going to the job fair. It can teach them how to navigate professional environments in a way that makes them stand out to employers.

There students can get hands-on experience on what to do and what not to do.

It is not exclusively for seniors; it helps people of all academic years.

“We encourage even freshmen and sophomores to attend these so that by the time they’re juniors and seniors and looking for internships or full-time positions, they are ready to do so,” Marek said.

Attending these events also opens doors for future jobs. The employers at the job fair work with Tarleton and look out for the students.

“We actually have a lot of partners that are alumni and are looking to hire alumni, and so that is a big connection here for a lot of these employers specifically,” Marek said.

Melinda Whitlock is a Tarleton alumna who is now in the education department and focuses on training new hires at Plywood Company of Fort Worth.

“We’ve had a lot of freshmen come by, and I think they seemed a little nervous, but I think that helped them just kind of get out there and talk to employers so that they will be more for next time,” Whitlock said.

Students should keep an eye out for these events by staying up to date on the careers services’ social media accounts.

It will help strengthen résumés by bringing to students’ attention what employers are specifically looking for. There are resources available with Career Services for that as well.

Career Services offers workshops for resume help and practice interviews so that students can feel more prepared for the future. They are available every month online or in person to students.

Listed below are some tips for attending job fairs provided by the career service on their website.

-Dress appropriately and remember to bring copies of your resume.

-Know your résumé and your background so you are able to tell an employer what you have to offer.

-Introduce yourself to employer representatives in a positive and confident manner. Smile, project enthusiasm and offer a firm handshake.

-Ask questions about career opportunities, specific job openings and the organization.

-Listen effectively. An employer representative may be able to refer you to another person who is better able to assist you.

-Collect company literature and business cards so you may follow up later.

-In addition to providing interviewing opportunities, job fairs will offer you the chance to network and build contacts. Keep track of the people you speak to and follow up with a thank you note.

-Ask about internship opportunities.

-Ask informational interviewing questions.

-Add employers and individuals on LinkedIn to maintain a professional relationship.

This is a program to help students take the next step in planning their careers.

Taking the initiative to go to a job fair can build relationships and skills that can be carried on throughout someone’s profession to better opportunities.

The experience of getting to talk with employers and ask questions translates over to future interviews. This may seem like a small step, but it could lead to bigger things.

So get that résumé ready and hit up the next job fair available because that might be the choice that leads to a dream job.