SVSU’s Career Services office held its first job fair of the year on Sept. 7 in the President’s Courtyard.
The event, which lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., aimed to help connect students on campus with both local and nationwide businesses looking for new talent.
At the event, students of all class standings got to meet with potential employers, discussing current employment opportunities for some and insights to future job markets for others.
Employers present at the event ranged from Nexteer Automotive, to Unique Bridal Boutique and the National Guard.
Laura Breault, a representative for H&R Block, opened up about what employers are looking for.
“We’re looking for people who are outgoing,” Breault said. “We can teach a position, but we can’t teach the ‘love of life’ that you need in a job like this. Taxes are long and frustrating sometimes, that’s why we need people who have that love for life to interact with clients with.”
Breault went further into the opportunities that employers like H&R Block are willing to provide to potential employees.
“We’re looking to fill positions from the bottom secretaries to top office officials. You don’t need a degree, or even prior experience. We will give you all the training you need,” she said. “We can work around any schedule – part time, full time, anything. We’re global, so no matter where you want to go, we can give you an opportunity to transfer there.”
Some employers went even further to try and reach out to students, like Jackie Liequia of ProMedical Hospice, one of many job recruiters offering interactive games and prizes to students walking by.
“The turnout is great,” Liequia said. “There’s a lot of nursing students, and some teachers gave their students an assignment to come here. I think that’s a really great thing to see.”
“I like coming to SVSU and Delta College, [I like] getting our faces out and making contact,” Breault said. “There’s definitely been a generational switch, life has changed, and it can be a bit of a challenge keeping up while maintaining professionalism.”
Students such as Baylee Cloudman, a freshman special education major, expressed similar goals in their attendance.
“I’m mostly just introducing myself because I’m only a freshman this year, and I don’t have the qualifications yet,” Cloudman said. “I’m just saying ‘hi’ to school districts so they know I’m here.”
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