The average human heart rate is 60 to 85 beats per minute, but as you think about your future your heart rate accelerates.
Sweat drips down your head and moistens your palms. Before you know it, it looks like you showered in your business suit.
This scenario describes the typical college student that is about to embark on the path that will shape the rest of his or her life, making themselves known to potential employers.
The U of M's career and employment services will give students this chance by sponsoring the 16th annual Career and Internship Expo on Sept. 28 in The University Center Ballroom.
Eighty-seven companies will send representatives to scout potential individuals with the personality and skills required to make or maintain their respective company's success.
Jessica Randolph, recruiting coordinator for career and employment services, is the fair's coordinator, and she said her aim is to help all students.
"We service all types of majors," she said. "We want to have something for everyone."
Businesses from the fields of health care, banking, telecommunication, transportation, hospitality and financing will be featured. Government entities such as the FBI, the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force will be in attendance as well.
Many well-known businesses such as Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Federal Express Corp., Cargill, Saks Incorporated and Baptist Memorial Healthcare will be there also.
Although the career fair is of the utmost importance for upper classmen rapidly approaching graduation, underclassmen can benefit also.
"I would urge undergraduates to come," she said. "It's a great way to network and drop off resumes and do research of companies you're interested in."
Randolph also said employers will be interested in filling both part and full-time positions and internships. But the majority of them will be focusing on full-time positions and internships.
Karen Hayes, director of career and employment services, said networking is the most effective tool to have in your job searching tool kit.
"Networking helps more narrowly define your goals by talking with employers," she said. "It opens doors that ordinarily wouldn't be open to you."
Networking allows job hunters to speak with corporate representatives and to discover their potential employer's aims for their respective services and what type of employees they want.
Hayes said employers want those who are diverse.
"They look for someone who interviews well, is articulate and can cite specific examples of how they might fit into a particular organization or job," she said. "I think also they look for someone who's well-rounded, done an internship and who belongs to student organizations because that shows they are serious about their career."
Some experts say students must have a set of clear goals defined. It is important that job seekers know what companies they want to target and if their personality and skills fit those companies.
Bob Moister, vice president of organizational development for Hollywood Casino, said students must fit into a specific mold in order to be hired.
"We're looking for bright, energetic students, primarily studying hospitality management, accounting, marketing or human resources, with a good academic record," he said.
Internships help both the employee and employer through the filling out stages of career management.
Students get to see what it is like to work at a company and develop specific skills needed in their career field. It also allows employers the chance to decide if the intern has what it takes to make it at their company.
Moister stressed the importance corporations place on internships, which in some cases, may be the only way to get certain jobs.
"We think it is an absolutely fantastic way for students to get to know a company and a company to get to know a student," he said. "We only bring someone into the program we want long term."
Some students say a fear of public speaking or speaking to those unfamiliar can make networking a nerve-wrecking experience.
Karmen Herring, a displaced student from New Orleans' Dillard University and a senior mass communications major, said she may attend the event and the prospect of networking does not intimidate her.
"I'm not nervous at all. I'm a really confident person."
Cameron Mallory, a freshman art major, has a different take. He said experience makes the difference. Nervousness sets in when experience is absent.
"You want to say the right things, but you're sort of nervous when you first get into it," Mallory said.
No matter how scary networking may be to some, both Herring and Mallory agree that it is vital for success in the working world.
"Networking allows you to be a shoe-in," she said. "It makes finding a job a lot easier, and it's good to have different companies want you," she said.
Hayes said the best method for conquering the fear of networking is practice.
Practice can be in several forms such as mingling at various campus events, doing class presentations and acting as team leaders. Most of all have favorable communication skills.
"We try to encourage students to use good grammar and avoid using slang when talking with employers," she said.
Randolph said students must be professional in their dress when approaching employers.
"Professional dress typically for men and women are matching suits in conservative colors black, navy blue or gray with coordinating matching tops and bottoms," she said.
