The fair is in town, and it’s representatives are looking for qualified students to fill key roles. They are currently offering many possible career paths for University of Memphis’ college graduates.
While twisting pretzels or becoming a rodeo clown at the Mid-South Fair may be a desirable profession for some college graduates, the career fair taking place at The U of M today and tomorrow will likely provide opportunities for the rest of the student body.
“The career fair is a great opportunity for students to evaluate the different employment options available to them,” said Karen Hayes, director for Career and Employment Services at The U of M.
University of Memphis students looking for the fast-track in securing a job will have a chance to distribute their résumés and meet prospective employers today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during The U of M Career Fair, which will be held in the University Center Ball Room.
The fair will showcase 78 corporate and government employers, 96 graduate schools and 26 volunteer organizations.
This year, 3,000 invitations were sent to businesses and schools nationwide, which was twice the amount of last year, according to Clay Woemmel, a career adviser at The U of M. Woemmel said the main goal this year was to increase employment opportunities and options for U of M students.
“In the questionnaires we asked students to complete last year, the main request was for more diversity of employers and more businesses from all over the nation, besides just our region,” Woemmel said.
Last year’s fair attracted between 1,300 and 1,400 students, but only about 300 returned completed questionnaires, according to Woemmel.
“It is important that students give feedback so that we know how to make the fair more profitable for them,” Woemmel said.
For students who need a little incentive to attend the fair, those who complete a survey and return it will be entered in a drawing to win a Palm Pilot on Wednesday and U of M spirit merchandise on Thursday.
In the past, mostly undergraduate students have attended the fair, but graduate students are encouraged to attend.
The Volunteer Fair will be held in the Faulkner Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Historically, students have been attracted to agencies that allow avenues for direct contact with others, such as the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization, according to Amy Hopper, a graduate assistant for student activities. However, Hopper said there are other agencies that provide indirect contact with people that are also in need of volunteers, such as Habitat for Humanity.
