BY EMILY NESS | Statesman Correspondent | The Statesman
Attending college is yet another life experience. Along with this comes choosing a major and becoming familiar in that field. Jobs and internships allow individuals to do exactly that.
The University of Minnesota Duluth will be holding its annual Job and Internship Fair on Oct. 8, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom and Rafters.
“The Job and Internship Fair is a collaboration of UMD, Lake Superior and Saint Scholastica,” Susan Hudec, employer relations coordinator, said.
The fair is open to current students and recent graduates.
According to Hudec, last year 424 students attended the fair. This year, there will be a record number of 94 employers attending the fair, potentially bringing a higher number of students.
The fair has no fee. Students register at the door with their U Card.
Brian Robertson, senior, is a Communication and Psychology major. He works as an outreach assistant in the Multicultural Center. He is also involved in helping with the Job and Internship Fair.
“My job is to make sure students are comfortable and prepared,” Robertson said.
This year, there is an app called Guidebook by U of M available for students who want to build a plan based on their skills, interests, strengths and values. The app gives students access to employers, information sessions, etc. According to Robertson, it is helpful in finding potential jobs and internships.
“The one thing that I learned from my internship is resume skills. I learned a lot about formatting as well as what I should and shouldn’t include…. This is something that I can take with me after I graduate.” Robertson said.
LinkedIn and GoldPASS are located on the Career and Internship Services website and provide students with professional help on their resumes.
“We highly encourage students to prepare. We encourage them to dress professionally, bring a resume and take notes,” Hudec said.
It is recommended that students arrive as close to the start of the fair as possible.
When speaking with potential employers, students should conduct themselves professionally by introducing themselves, making eye contact and establishing their purpose for stopping by.
“Our vision is for all UMD students to embrace their future with confidence,” Robertson said.
According to Hudec, the main purpose of the fair is to gather information and make contacts with potential employers. This will provide students with the opportunity to create job and internship experiences for the future.