Spring Career fair gets students ready for employment

Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor

Cold weather did not stop Jackson State University students from suiting up in their best business attire for the Spring Career Fair on Feb. 12. The fair was hosted by the Career Services and Student Employment Center (CSSEC) at JSU in the Student Center.

Employers including Comcast Cable, Jackson Convention Complex, Lockheed Martin, and Sherwin-Williams Company, were just a few of the many companies that came prepared to accept resumes from JSU students.

The fair was open to students of all classifications and majors. According to the JSU Career Guide, the mission of CSSEC is to provide career services in a supportive and proactive manner for JSU students and alumni, including information and counseling on career choices, graduate and professional school opportunities, internship opportunities, and part-time and full-time employment opportunities.

Orlando Jones, an alumnus of JSU and assistant manager at Sherwin-Williams, said the Career Fair is perfect timing for students.

“Students are actually getting ready to embark on different opportunities. The summer is coming up, there are internships. They have the opportunity where they can go to a full-time internship. Also for seniors, it is a perfect time for advancement and moving up so they can start at entry levels at those companies, move up and excel,” said Jones.

Jones started with Sherwin-William three months after graduating from JSU in May 2012. He shared some advice students can utilize to be career ready.

“It’s all about great networking and professionalism. If you present yourself in such a way not only will you be looking at companies but companies will begin to look at you. Always prepare and make sure you have different things that will set you apart. Start early, as early as possible. Upcoming seniors should already have some companies in mind that they want to work for to move forward to their goals,” said Jones.

Dhahran Hall, a senior mass communications major from Chicago, Ill., wasn’t going to let any opportunities pass him by not attending the career fair.

“I decided to attend the career fair to check out what they do offer and to network with employers. I do want to go into the field of social media management, which is kind of a field that can be applied to any business. Me being a graduating senior, it is a senior’s worst nightmare to graduate without a job opportunity,” said Hall.

LaVenita Cottrell, Assistant Director of CSSEC, said career fairs are a major event at JSU and it is vital for students to participate.

“A lot of our employers are looking for students for summer internships and full time employment. This fair in the spring is important because a lot of students are getting ready to graduate in May. It lets the recruiters tell students what they have to offer. Any company will have a variety of employment opportunities. So students need to take advantage of these fairs,” said Cottrell.

The Beyond Please and Thank You Etiquette Dinner will also take place Feb 13. from 5-8 p.m. in  the Student Center Ballroom. This event prepares students to be professional in and out of the office environment.

“We have employers, faculty, staff, and administrators at the etiquette dinner but it also gives students the opportunity to learn about business and dining etiquette,” said Cottrell. “A lot of employers now take students out for interviews during lunch and dinner. This gives them the opportunity to meet other employers with that company. An interview isn’t something that just takes place in a room sitting down but it can be in a social setting as well.”

Students who don’t make it to the career fairs are encouraged to register for Tigers2Work. If you are registered for Tigers2Work, all you have to do is log into your account and click on the employment opportunities and you can send your resume directly to the employer.

If you want to find out more information about the JSU Career Services and Student Employment Center, visit the office located in the Reddix Building on the first floor or call 601-979-2477.