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JobFest to connect students with regional employers on March 15

On Tuesday, March 15, WVU Tech Career Services will welcome nearly 50 employers from a wide range of industries for the University’s annual JobFest event.

JobFest kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. in the Tech Center Ballroom and the fireplace lounge. The event will bring in 47 employers from a wide range of fields, including healthcare, business, engineering, manufacturing, military, government, insurance and retail.

Employers will be seeking candidates for full-time and part-time positions, as well as internships, co-ops and seasonal summer employment.

“This is a very big event with employers from throughout the region,” said Candice Stadler, director of WVU Tech Career Services. “There will be something for every major. If you’re getting ready to graduate or if you’re looking for experience while you’re in school, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect with these recruiters.”

Stadler said students attending the event should prepare as though they’re attending an in-person job interview. Students should dress appropriately in business or business casual attire (no jeans, flips flops, sneakers, sweats or athletic gear) and come prepared with copies of their updated resume. Students who choose not to print their resumes should upload their resume files to services like Dropbox or Google Drive so they can share them electronically with recruiters.

At JobFest, students will receive a map showing where employers are located. Graduating students who are looking to maximize their exposure to regional employers should plan for an hour to an hour and a half to work their way through the event. Students should also be prepared to talk about themselves and what they want to pursue after graduation.

“If you’ve worked on an elevator speech, this is a good time to practice that,” said Stadler. “Students need to be comfortable talking about themselves with employers about their career goals and what they’re learning in their major.”

A number of employers will be conducting on-campus interviews. CDI Corporation, West Virginia Power, the West Virginia Army National Guard, Columbia Pipeline Group, Kennametal Inc., RDX and USDA-FSIS will conduct interviews following JobFest from 2:30-5:00 p.m. Siemens Industry, Inc. will visit campus on Wednesday, March 16, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to conduct interviews. Stadler suggested that students should arrive early to secure a spot in the interview schedule.

Stadler said the event is also important for students not currently on the job hunt.

“JobFest presents opportunities for students who are not actively seeking full-time employment. It’s a good idea to prepare for next year. If you’re going to be looking for internships or full-time work, you’ll get practice and a sampling of the types of regional opportunities you can go after. You’ll also become familiar with the companies that come out, what they do, who they are, what kinds of questions they ask and what kinds of qualifications they’re looking for in a candidate,” she said.

For seniors, Stadler said JobFest is a great way to jumpstart the job hunt.

“If you’re getting ready to graduate and you haven’t started the process, now is a great time. It can take a company somewhere between 40-60 days on average from job posting to hire, so starting earlier is better. Nothing beats a face-to-face with recruiters to get you motivated and excited about the career opportunities that are open to you, so don’t miss this chance to do just that,” she said.

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