Las Vegas, N.M. – Forty employers will be at Highlands University Nov. 4 looking to hire the university’s students and alumni.
The free Career and Internship Fair will be from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom, 800 National Ave.
“Career fairs provide students and alumni with an opportunity to meet in person with employers rather than simply applying to an employer’s website job board,” said Ron García, Officer of Career Services director. “The employers at the career fair are eager to recruit students and alumni for career positions and paid summer internships.”
The Office of Career Services organizes the annual career fair.
“Employers range from Fortune 100 companies to federal and state agencies. We also have a good mixture of nonprofits and social service agencies. There are 10 new employers represented at the career fair this year, ranging from IBM and the State Employees Credit Union to the Mental Health Center of Denver, which will conduct on-the-spot interviews,” García said.
Some other employers include government agencies like Los Alamos National Laboratory, the U.S. Forest Service, and FBI, large corporate employers like Verizon, and nonprofits like Youth Shelter & Family Services.
Local employers like Alta Vista Regional Hospital and El Centro Family Health will also be recruiting at the career fair.
A list of participating employers is online at www.nmhu.edu/careerfairs
García said that as in past years, a number of the employer recruiters are Highlands University alumni motivated to hire graduates of their alma mater.
“For instance, biology alumnus Peter Ngam is a laboratory manager at the National Center for Genome Resources in Santa Fe. He will be recruiting biology, chemistry and computer science students,” García said.
García added that there is a misperception that career fairs are only for upper-division students and encourages freshman and sophomores to also participate.
“Data from the National Association of College Employers show that college students who utilize career fairs and career centers starting in their freshman year are four times more likely to have successful career outcomes upon graduation, earning $5,600 more in starting salaries than other students who waited until their senior year or never used career services,” García said.
He recommends professional attire for the career fair, as well as bringing at least 10 resumes.
Students may enter their resume to win one of three $50 gift certificate to J.C.’s Pizza. There are also a number of other prizes such as $100 gift certificates to Walmart and $50 and $25 gift certificates to Follett, the university’s bookstore.
Contact Career Services for help with building your resume and other preparation for the career fair. Call 505-454-3048 to make an appointment with a career adviser or visit the office in the Felix Martinez Student Services Building, Room 230, 800 University Ave. It is open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Career Services website also has wealth of helpful resources such as job postings, Optimal Resume software for building resumes, interview preparation, interview dress tips, negotiating salaries, and much more. Go online to www.nmhu.edu/career-services/