The seventh annual career fair helped students meet 125 hiring employers for jobs and internships. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar
The sound of basketballs hitting the floor was a bit more faint Tuesday morning at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center as the 2011 Texas Job Fair and its 125 employers filled the floor in search of potential job and internship candidates.
The fair, an annual event sponsored by the Houston Area Consortium of Career Centers, is in its seventh year and boasts a diverse range of employers and organizations such as: General Electric, Citizen Schools, Disney, Verizon, HACU National Internship Program, Central Intelligence Agency and Enterprise Holdings.
“Each year has been great. Students are given access to explore employers and careers they might not have considered before,” Jevel Showers, president elect of HACCC, said. “This year we anticipate exceeding last year’s record attendance of 1285 students.”
Even though not all students receive a job or internship from the fair, experiences such as shaking hands and having conversations, can be valuable in their future job searches.
Aside from an education, businesses seek candidates with experience and confidence, according to Beth Allday of Enterprise Holdings.
“Employers want employees who are enthusiastic and show a genuine interest in the company,” Malika Riley, a recruiter with The Lubrizol Corporation, said.
Candidates walked around the basketball courts and indoor soccer field of the Recreation Center, where recruiters from around the country set up informational booths to answer questions and review resumes.
“Bringing resumes for potential employers to critique and offer suggestions is a service in its own,” Mike Bubeck, a graduate of Houston Baptist University said. “Overall, I was pleased with the fair. There were lots of great companies and online resources provided.”
At the end of the event, attendees were asked to fill out an evaluation and given a free set of cards containing tips, suggestions and brainstorming ideas for their interviews.
For students who missed this year’s fair, Employer Relations Coordinator Jessica Campbell, of University Career Services-University of Houston, suggests students take advantage of the full range of job search assistance, including workshops, resume writing assistance, career counseling, job postings and on-campus interviews provided by the USC.
Find more details at www.career.uh.edu.
The 2012 Texas Job Fair will be held in March 2012 at the University of St. Thomas.
