More than 79 national corporations are planning to converge at UNM to promote their businesses and help members of the community with their future employment decisions.
The 27th Career Expo, sponsored by UNM's Career Services Department, will be Jan. 13 and 14, in Johnson Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will provide the opportunity to learn networking skills and the intricacies of the professional job market, according to Mary Montano, career development facilitator at the Anderson Schools of Management.
"Higher education should include career development in order for a prosperous future," Montano said. "Unfortunately, students don't get that training in the classroom. This is a good opportunity for students to connect with their future careers."
Montano said that the Career Expo will afford students the luxury of discovering the kinds of jobs that are open, as well as the ins and outs of the career path they are hoping to pursue.
Richard Ross, Career Services Lab Manager said that this year's Expo is not restricted to students, that it is open to all interested community members and that students need not be registered to attend.
"The Career Expo is not just for seniors preparing to graduate," Ross said. "It is never too early to start on your career development path."
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Ross said that employers search college campuses throughout the nation looking for strong candidates to bring back to their office who will fit well in their organizations and have all the qualifications needed to be successful in that company.
He added that while an abundance of corporations will be on hand, not all of them will be hiring given the state of the national economy, but that nonetheless it is important because it will allow students to see what is available in the national job market.
"These expos really enhance a student's chances of success upon graduation," Ross said. "It is a rare situation that allows them to go to one place and hit a multitude of companies. It is literally a mall of job opportunities."
He added that the potential pay scale is traditionally more when acquiring a job through a job fair such as the Career Expo because companies take more interest in students they have actively recruited.
"Since companies invest time and money in getting the individuals they feel are qualified, they are usually willing to make it worth that individual's time," Ross said.
Leslye Ellison, director of Career Services, said the department hosts several career and information fairs annually, providing you with the opportunity to learn more about career opportunities and find employment.
Ellison said that when students go the fairs they can expect to find a room full of employers who will have brochures, giveaways and other information. She recommended that students go dressed to impress with plenty of rÇsumÇs and treat the fair as if attending a real life job interview.
Employers, she explained, want an overall professional presentation in terms of dress and rÇsumÇs, with a good, solid education and experience related to the kinds of positions students hope to obtain.
"Even if you don't consider this a professional interview, you need to make a professional impression," Ellison said.
She added that the employers scheduled to attend are already interested in UNM students, otherwise they wouldn't be here.
"Believe it or not, you can graduate from college with a good job," Ellison said. "A lot of students do, but only if they take advantage of things that help them connect with employers."
