The task of finding an internship or job can be daunting. You have the skills, but you may struggle on how to find the career for you.

A daunting task made easy

The Springfield Career Expo and Education Career Fair has over 200 employers and potential jobs and internships, according to the Career Planning and Development office. It will be held on February 28, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Springfield EXPO Center (located at 635 E. St. Louis Street). The fair is open to students from five local colleges: Drury University, Missouri State University, Evangel University, College of the Ozarks and South Baptist University.

Emily Buckmaster, Director of              Career Planning and Development            Photo via Drury University

“Drury students have an opportunity to stand out because we do not have as many people from Drury there and employers take notice when students from a smaller college are there,” said Director of Drury’s Career Planning and Development Emily Buckmaster.

Buckmaster said that this fair is open to all students. Employers are hiring not just in Springfield, but for regional positions as well. She said that this is a great opportunity for upperclassmen to look for internships and graduate schools. It is also a great time for freshmen to see what career fairs are like and learn more about potential industries.

Additional resources for students

Before going to the fair, the Career Planning and Development office is hosting a job fair prep event. Students from any major can get their resume reviewed on February 20, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Bay Hall, room 148. Students can also get LinkedIn profile pictures taken from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

To further prepare before going to the fair, Buckmaster recommends downloading The Fairs App. The app allows students to filter through potential businesses, see recruiters’ names and search for businesses by major in which they are interested in hiring.

Job searches are made easy with The Fairs App Photo via The Fairs App

“Get an idea of five to 10 businesses that you are interested in and have a plan for meeting them,” said Buckmaster.

Consider your options

Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and professor of Communication, Dr. Regina Waters, advised to be open to all potential career opportunities, even the ones that may not seem like they are in your major.

Dr. Regina Waters, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies            Photo via Drury University

“Don’t discount some employers as being irrelevant. The best advice I can give to a student is to approach many tables in many different sectors. Look at it as a low investment way for your interests and skills to fit in to an organization,” Waters said.

Waters also encouraged students to be adventurous in who they approach at the event.

“My greatest fear is that students have a narrow view of who they should be talking, I would love to see more curious students,” she said.

Guidelines for success

For students looking to apply for jobs or internships Buckmaster suggested bringing a few things to the event.

“[Students] should bring several copies of a resume on a bit nicer paper. They should also have something to put their resumes in like a binder or a nice folder. Dress professionally if you are in the job or internship search. Other students just exploring the fair could dress in business casual attire,” said Buckmaster.

She said that it is important to do research before going in to talk to potential employers. This way you can ask tailored questions for the specific potential careers.

“Have a 30 second commercial pitch that introduces you, your name, what school you are from, what you are studying and what you are looking for,” Buckmaster said.

Waters echoed Buckmaster. She said to reflect on how you deliver your pitch the first time you give it, then tweak it as you talk to more employers.

Waters then said that students should take home the information they gathered about the various organizations they talked with. Then they can see what areas of their resume they need to strengthen and what skills they need to further develop as they enter the workforce.

For more information on what businesses will be showcased at the fair follow Drury’s Career Planning and Development office on social media and download The Fairs App.

Article written by Taylor Perkins