Career Expo
Written by Everett McKee
Throw back to UH Hilo’s Fall 2013 Fair held in the UH Hilo Gym. This image featured on the UH Hilo ALEX Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/UHHiloALEX/timeline?ref=page_internal
The day long ALEX Spring 2015 Career Expo will be held on March 2nd, with events beginning at 10 a.m. This is a date every student should mark in their calendars as it will help to deter the “jobless plague” that numerous graduates suffer from.
If you're new to college or you're preparing to graduate there is always that one thing that is on everyone's mind. What am I going to do when school is done? This is one of the most common issues that universities are faced with. A recent survey done by the After College Recruiting site showed that only 2 students out of 10 will have a job lined up after graduation. That seems like a small return on investment. Imagine only two of your friends who graduate with you will be working when you and seven others will be living with family skimming the morning papers for a paycheck that you won't enjoy earning.
Students put off job searching for so long that by the time graduation rolls around reality kicks in and the questions of what to do with oneself always finds its way into seats in the graduate sitting at commencement. In order to fight this insufferable plague the answers may lie with the ALEX Career Expo being held on March 2. The event features two career development events for students, a 'Talk Story' Session being held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the library lanai and a 'Job and Internship Fair' from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Campus Center dining room.
In an interview with Suzie Lippwe, the ALEX Intern event planner heading this event, she gave an exclusive on the overall goal and structure. So that students (like myself) who are new to figuring out their “journey to success” have a better idea of what to expect.
“It will be a one day event with two parts. The first part ('Talk Story' Session) will be an informal meeting with employers to get a general feel of the companies that are being marketed, as well as a what they expect from applicants. The second (Job and Internship Fair) will be a formal event in the evening which is the time which students can bring their resumes as well as cloaked in professional attire to apply to these companies for a job or internship,” said Lippwe.
Suzie Lippwwe Alex Intern Event Planner. Picture Credit: Intern Reporter
In preparation for this event she also released information on events that are geared towards preparing students with two weeks of workshops that will ultimately bring them a better understanding of how to apply the work that they have already done. Suzie states, “for the two weeks leading up to the Expo there will be two workshops, a resume workshop and an interview workshop. We want to encourage freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and even seniors to be a part of the events.”
The workshops and Career Expo are part of a broader initiative, Journey to Success, to engage students in the career planning process. Students can learn more about the program at hilo.hawaii.edu/alex/journeytosuccess. For more information on college employment statistics head to some of these websites listed below.
College Statistics
What does it take to get hired? Start planning your journey with ALEX. Photo provided by UH Hilo ALEX Facebook.
