By Hillary C. Wright, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University will be hosting a career fair April 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Activities Center on the main campus.
The career fair, which is open to the public as well, is sponsored by the Office of Career Services as a service to “students, graduates and alumni seeking full and part-time employment opportunities,” according to Teresa Elmore, director of career services at CU.
“Because of the harsh economic times, the job fair will also be open to the public,” she said. Twenty-nine companies have confirmed to participate to date. Over 300 companies/businesses were invited, she said.
As of press time, the following companies had confirmed to be present: Air Force Recruiting, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Amazon; Bankers Life & Casualty Co., Bowling Green, Ky.; Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC), Fort Knox, Ky.;
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Big Cat 105.5 WLVK, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Branch Bank & Trust Co., Springfield, Ky.; Campbellsville Career Center; Campbellsville Country Club; Commonwealth Broadcasting;
Commonwealth Health Corp.; Dart Container Corp., Horse Cave, Ky.; Edward Jones, Campbellsville/Greensburg; Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Louisville, Ky.; Ephraim McDowell Health, Danville, Ky.;
First Investors, Lexington, Ky.; Life Skills Inc., Bowling Green, Ky.; McDonald’s, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Monumental Life Insurance; Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Louisville, Ky.;
Social Security Administration; Spring View Hospital, Lebanon, Ky.; Taylor County Bank, Campbellsville; Taylor Regional Hospital, Campbellsville; U.S. Army, Bardstown, Ky.; U.S. Census Bureau;
Wal-Mart; Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, Lexington, Ky.; YMCA Camp Piomingo, Brandenburg, Ky.; and independent business opportunities tables of MarketAmerica.com, Mary Kay and Campbellsville University Graduate School.
“I knew the participation company-wise would be down due to company cutbacks and hiring freezes, but I’m fairly pleased with the representation of companies confirmed to attend.”
“The job market being one of the worst since the Great Depression means that graduates must start networking earlier than ever and with as many relative contacts as possible,” Elmore said. “Competition for jobs is tough and graduates must sell themselves, their education, skills and work and volunteer experiences as valuable assets to the company for which they are applying.”
Elmore said, “Graduates need to realize that if they do not already have a job– it could take a minimum of six to nine months to find a job after they graduate. The whole key is networking, networking and more networking! Many employers at this fair will be accepting resumes, and it is my hope that several will make it to the next level and be interviewed for positions within weeks following the job fair.”
Elmore encouraged those attending the career fair to be prepared in advance by researching companies attending; by dressing professionally; bringing up-to-date resumes and then presenting yourself with confidence offering your skills, education and experience to the table.
Information fliers on “How to Work a Job Fair” are available in the career office, which is located in the Student Union Building on the main campus.
In addition to organizing a yearly on-campus job fair, the Office of Career Services offers to its students — individual career counseling, career exploration labs and several opportunities to participate in resume writing and job interview workshops and even mock interviews. Major advisors can be a huge resource to the students as well-sharing more in-depth expertise in a particular field or graduate school.
Students also come to Career Services in search of resume assistance and leads on part-time jobs and then full-time jobs upon graduation, Elmore said.
She said the demand is growing and while career services is not a job placement service, she said the office does help connect students with companies and employers that might be hiring.
The Office of Career Services receives and posts job openings free of charge. The notices are posted on campus bulletin boards and on the Campbellsville University Career Services job postings page which is another resource for students involved in on-line job search.
Chamber businesses and alumni chapters have been informed in recent months concerning job shadowing and mentoring opportunities which allow students to have some “real-life insight” in a particular career field, Elmore said.
“Providing a student an internship during college years can offer much needed work experience while benefiting the company too,” she said.
Shannon Clark, director of alumni relations at Campbellsville University, helps share mentoring, job shadowing, internship and job posting information at her alumni chapter meetings throughout the state and via e-newsletters and CU’s alumni magazine, the Campbellsvillian.
“We encourage friends and alumni to consider investing in a college student or graduate — just as someone once invested in them and gave them an opportunity. An internship during a junior or senior year or entry level position upon graduation is a great investment!” she said.
On March 27, the Office of Career Services will offer to current college students three one-hour senior level workshops sessions titled: “Professional Interview Techniques” at 10 a.m., “Business Dining Etiquette Luncheon” at noon, and a hands-on lab titled “How to Apply for State Jobs” at 2 p.m. Guest presenters are Chris Goodson from the Campbellsville Career Center, and Terri Thompson from Etiquette Edge, Paris, Ky.
The Office of Career Services encourages upcoming graduating seniors to make time for these workshops and others on the schedule and to make an appointment to have their resume’s reviewed prior to graduation or attending job fairs, Elmore said.
“Building a quality resume is vital in making it through the initial screening process when seeking to gain a chance for an interview,” she said.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S. News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.