University Job Fair

-- David Rausch

The Minnesota State University Job Fair was held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Feb. 26. Ballrooms A and B held booths where representatives from over 130 companies recruited candidates for potential hiring. Graduates of the state universities as well as juniors and seniors were in attendance. Of the 144 Metropolitan State University students who registered, 118 attended the fair. Overall, slightly more than 1,000 students attended from the seven state universities that hosted the event.

Metropolitan State’s Career Services encouraged participants to attend the orientation and resume workshops in the weeks prior to the actual event. Early registration for the fair was $15.00, and same day sign-up was $20.00. An early registration included a printed name tag (versus a handwritten one the day of the fair) for the participant, which also stated the student’s major.

Career Services suggested business attire, and almost every student was dressed accordingly. Bob Peterson and Sara Donlin of Carlson Companies had described what they look for when approached at the fair. Peterson stressed professional attire shows you care, and that an employer believes that professionalism will be brought to the workplace. Likewise, the opposite can work against you; Donlin recalled a young man dressed in a button-down shirt, jeans and sneakers who left an impression on her. Although she said she did not forget him, he left what both Peterson and Donlin said was the wrong impression.

Like several other employers, such as Thomson, Cargill and Hennepin County, Carlson Companies advertises their positions online. Carlson Companies is large and covers many states; and thus, it is impossible to know what is offered on any given day. No resumes were being taken by Carlson Companies at the job fair, so some wondered what the benefit of registration fees, parking fees and the day spent at the fair was.

Peterson and Dunlin gave one of several answers. They suggested mentioning their names in a cover letter when sending a resume. With a personal reference to a recruiter, human resource directors will likely ask about you. As Carlson Companies recruiters indicated, a strong impression of dress and conduct will help in winning over the competition. Peterson explained that he would tell human resources whether the prospect was well-dressed, came up and shook his hand, and was overall direct and professional.

Justin Fischer of Hertz (rental cars) had recently finished a job fair held at the University of Minnesota and stated the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities job fair candidates seemed much more prepared.

Fischer, Carlson Companies recruiters and a few others also said it is important to research the company you are planning to submit a resume to. Again, it shows you care and take the time to prepare. Fischer said job fairs are a great tool for companies, as companies are able to find college educated candidates in a concentrated environment.

On April 9, a job fair will be hosted by Metropolitan State and Minneapolis Community and Technical College at the Minneapolis Campus in the skyway. This fair would have about 30 employers, including Target, UPS, Fairview Health Services, and it will be free. For a complete listing of future job fairs, visit http://www.metrostate.edu/career/workshops.html.

Bill Baldus of Career Services said the job fair is great for an initial job search; however, it should be part of a full plan that involves other strategies. Baldus also suggested that a strategy developed sooner would be better, and encouraged everyone, including freshman, to develop one.