As the year kicks off for Colorado Mesa University (CMU), many students begin preparation to balance work and school life. For others, finding a career after university life begins to take precedence. The annual Job Fair held on Sept. 7 was a testament to the young minds and industries eager to harness their potential.
The transition from academic life to the professional world can be daunting, but the college campus job fair helps serve as a bridge, allowing them to interact with potential employers. The opportunity to talk to numerous different companies about what they have to offer and get a personalized experience is what many students crave.
As CMU Human Resources Recruiter Zach Sargent said, “Job fairs are good for that personable, interpersonal communication and having that in-person hands-on interaction” compared to online advertisements. Job fairs are much different, especially in an era where digital applications dominate the recruitment process, job fairs offer a personal touch. Sargent affirmed this by saying, “online recruitment sort of does its own thing and takes flight on its own.”
Junior Jessie Beck, said “It was easy to talk to people face to face. It was convenient to ‘get a foot in the door’ at different jobs since you actually got to meet real employees and bosses. We were able to ask a lot of questions and get immediate answers.
Job fairs are very beneficial for employers as well, as they allow the companies to brand themselves and network with the future workforce. However, it’s not just about networking but also about learning about different industries and what they’re looking for.
“We were [able] to learn about 20 different jobs in the span of an hour. We didn’t have to just scroll through a bunch of dead-end jobs, we just walked up and talked to different people who were actually interested in telling you about their job” Beck said.
The Job Fair was more than just an event; it’s a testament to the commitment of CMU to ensure its students are well-prepared for the professional world and allow employers to offer promising opportunities for the next generation of employees.
