Career Fair Prep Party advises students

In a job market that can take months to get a job interview, students at SCSU were given an opportunity to participate in the Career Fair Prep Party (CFPP), an event that provided students with the opportunity to meet employers and prepare for future career fairs and job interviews.

Educational stations included information on how to greet an employer, research an employer, dress and how to improve a resume. Volunteers, businesses and professors were present to make the experience as beneficial as possible for the students in attendance.

“So far so good,” Andy Ditlevson, associate director of the Career Services Center, said in the first hour of the event.

“Of course we’d like to see as many students attend as possible. In this job market, people are waiting months for job interviews and here students have employers just waiting to talk to them. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great learning experience,” Ditlevson said.

The room filled with activity as students participated in each station, meeting with employers and receiving advice on how to approach the job market.

Steve Froeschl, employment manager of Securian Financial Group, spent his time during the event helping students prepare for their introduction to employers.

“Most students are doing fine [with their introductions] but there are points that we can give them that will give them an advantage,” Froeschl said.

How to dress was also a popular station, with several Macy’s consultants volunteering their time to give advice on clothes and makeup choices.

“A lot of individuals have been asking what to invest in, and the best thing you can do is invest in just one nice suit,” said 20-year Macy’s employee Deb Meyer. “You don’t want your outfit to be the ‘most memorable.’ You should stick with a basic suit in a color such as black or grey.

Over a dozen companies such as General Mills, Target and the Mayo Clinic, had participants at the CFPP.

Many of those companies are looking to hire students for both internships and post-graduation jobs.

“This event is a really great idea. It helps you put your best foot forward. I think it helps people build more confidence, learn how to dress and provides a lot of good pointers. It also provided me with the opportunity to talk to employers about internships,” Helen Rose, a junior psychology major, said upon completion of the four stations.

Students unable to participate in the Career Fair Prep Party may be able to attend another CFPP which is planned for January and can also log on to the Career Services Center’s Web site to view a video on how to prepare for a career fair.