Julia Mericle
Staff Writer
CareerFest 2014, hosted by the Career and Professional Readiness Center (CPRC), will bring more than 30 employers to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Thursday, March 6, for students to meet and network.
The event, which will begin at 11:30 a.m., is tailored specifically to St. Bonaventure students in their efforts for finding jobs, internships, service, research or graduate school opportunities.
Representatives from schools and employers will be set up at tables for students to receive information. Business casual attire is recommended and there will be a LinkedIn photo booth to provide students with a chance to have a professional photo taken for their online accounts.
Students who wish to have copies of their résumés printed and the chance to win other prizes must pre-register by emailing carer@sbu.edu by Monday, March 3. Those who pre-register will also be invited to attend Resumania, a résumé reviewing workshop, on Tuesday, March 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Reilly Center. Walk-ins are welcome at CareerFest.
Elizabeth Grady, a graduate assistant for the CPRC, encouraged students to attend the event to become aware of all the opportunities that are available to them. She said the event’s benefits are not limited to juniors and seniors.
Maggie Schunk, a sophomore education major, said she will attend CareerFest this year so she can learn more about professionalism and how to prepare for her future career after St. Bonaventure.
“I didn’t go to CareerFest last year, but after seeing how much the CPRC helped me through changing my major, I plan to attend this year and see how it can help me prepare for the next step too,” Schunk said.
Pamela Ferman, career counselor and employer relations coordinator, said the event holds more opportunities than most students are aware. She explained the many capacities of a company that are often looked over.
“Just because they’re an insurance company doesn’t mean they don’t need an accountant, or someone to manage their social media or their marketing platforms,” Ferman said. “Sometimes we think so linearly. Just think more broadly.”
The CPRC stresses the importance of networking and how it leads to endless opportunities beyond the person a student directly speaks with. Ferman reminded students that you don’t know who other people might know.
Ferman said attending CareerFest also allows students to practice these professional skills before facing an important situation in which the skills are needed.
“Take this opportunity to work on that pitch, to work on what you’re going to say to somebody when you have those 10 to 15 seconds to tell them what you’re looking for in a professional setting,” Ferman said.
Ferman explained when employers are faced with a stack of résumés, they are more likely to pick candidates out of the pile if they remember speaking with the candidate.
Ferman offered networking tips for St. Bonaventure students who plan to attend CareerFest.
“Tell them a little bit about who you are, the field you are looking for and give them some sort of compliment. Ask them some questions about their company,” Ferman said.
According to Ferman, there must be a give-and-take relationship between the students and prospective employers. Students can’t sit back wait for opportunities to be given to them.
Ferman said the CPRC is constantly working to provide students with ways to develop professionally, and CareerFest is one of these opportunities.
“We want to give you the best chance to succeed beyond St. Bonaventure University,” Ferman said.
mericlje13@bonaventure.edu
