By LEAH GARAVELLI
Editor-in-Chief
With graduation drawing nearer each day, many seniors are growing anxious as they try to plan for their future. Among other worries, they have to decide how they are going to support themselves and find a job.
According to an article in The Kansas City Star, the jobless rate last year for college graduates age 20 to 24 was 9.4 percent, and before the re- cession, it was 5.5 percent.
“It scares me a bit,” said senior Russian ma- jor Ashlee DeVore. “It seems to be hard for ev- eryone to find jobs at the moment whether they have a degree or not.”
Career and Corporate Development (Career Services) is helping ease student concerns by hosting a Career Fair on Ouachita’s campus to help students network with companies and pair employers with future graduates.
“This is our fourth year to do this,” said Mal- lory Moddelmog, director of Career Services. “We had 23 organizations last year, but we have 60 coming this year.”
Most of the companies coming are from Arkansas, and they have jobs available for many majors. “You’ll see employers looking to hire for full-time, part-time and internships,” Moddelmog said. “Grad schools and test prep companies will be there too.”
The career fair is not just for juniors and se- niors. According to Moddelmog, some recruiters specifically asked to see underclassmen at the fair.
“It’s a good networking opportunity for them,” Moddelmog said. “They can learn what employers are looking for, and the students may choose do more ‘extra curriculars’ to fill their expectations.”
Career Services held a Career Workshop yes- terday to help students prepare for the Career Fair, but Moddelmog said it was not necessary to attend the workshop to go to the fair. She of- fered tips for those who were unable to attend.
“Do your homework; Research the attending companies and schools you are interested in,” Moddelmog said. “Organize your time and de- cide who [what companies] you want to speak with. Keep in mind which majors the company is looking for. … Bring a copy of your resume -at least 10. Students should dress appropriately [in business style].” In addition, Moddelmog said students should prepare an “elevator speech,” a 30-second spiel where students shake hands and introduce themselves to employers, giving them their name, major and graduation date. The speech is also when students can tell the representatives why they decided to attend the fair, refer to positions they are hiring for and let the employer know that they know something about their company.
The Career Fair will take place Tuesday, April 5. Ouachita’s Career Fair is being held from 2-4 p.m. at Walker Conference Center. Henderson State University is hosting a Career Fair in the morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at Henderson’s Garrison Activity Center Day Gym. Students can go to either event.
“Students just need to stop at the registration table when they arrive, pick up a map and en- ter the fair,” Moddelmog said. “This will enter them for door prizes that will be given away.”
For more information about the Career Fair, resumes or job searching, contact Moddelmog at moddelmogm@obu.edu.
