Rebecca RhodesWhen seeking employment in a professional career or internship, do not fall into the abyss of online applications. Typing your street name, previous experience and references 10 times over becomes a tedious process. Instead of looking at the computer screen, look to the MOV Career Fair.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and WVU Parkersburg will present the MOV Career Fair 2017 on Wednesday Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the College Activities Center on campus. This event is a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce MOV, Results Radio, Veterans Assistance, WorkforceWV and the Workforce Development Board of the MOV.
“Senator Manchin has co hosted several job and resource fairs in cities throughout the state already…in an effort to get West Virginians back to work. We are happy that Parkersburg is the next location. Our students, alumni and jobseekers in the community are ready and deserving of this opportunity,” Jennifer Randolph, Director of Career Services and MOV Sector Partnership Coordinator said.
There are over 80 employers waiting to reach their hand out to potential employers. Some of this organizations include: the Bureau of Fiscal Service, Highmark Health, Memorial Health System and N3. Also, veterans resources and several military branch recruiters such as, the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and the United States Marine Corps will be in attendance.
The old saying, “dress to impress” holds true when attending this career fair, or any for that matter. These helpful hints can maximize your time and help you make a memorable first impression.
“Jobseekers should bring plenty of resumes to distribute to employers. Even if you are not currently looking for a job, you should still dress professionally,” Randolph said.
Knowing how many resumes to bring depends on how many organizations you are interested in joining. It is also recommended to research an employer before approaching them. By taking the time to learn more about a company and its services, you better understand its expectations. You can use this knowledge to start a conversation about job vacancies.
Last, but not least, a jobseeker should follow up with their contacts. By reaching out a second time, via phone or email, not only signals to the employer that an individual is truly interested in a position, but is also considerate.
To help remember these tips and tricks, WVU Parkersburg Career Services produced a video for jobseekers. This is an important piece of material for students and members of the community. Speaking of students, it is never too early to start looking or applying.
“Many students think because they aren’t ready to start working immediately, they don’t need to go. You do not want your first job fair to be the one where you need to land that job. Students should go to this event to get the experience, so they will be prepared and confident at the fair that matters most,” Randolph said.
For more information, or to visit a full list of employers, visit the career website.