Spalding University students are encouraged to dress to impress and take advantage of an opportunity to improve their job-landing prowess at Spalding’s annual Career Expo on Feb. 21.
Located in the Spalding Library and held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Career Expo will bring hiring representatives from 40 businesses and organizations to campus to accept resumes and cover letters from Spalding students and meet with them about potential job openings. Alumni are also invited to attend and explore career opportunities.
Even if the interviews don’t lead to job offers – or if some students aren’t necessarily interested in working for some of the organizations – the meetings can serve as important practice for students who are set to enter the job market. Alumni are invited as well.
“It’s about practicing acting appropriately around potential employers,” said Spalding Academic Support Director Katherine Walker-Payne, who oversees career development. “We do have employers who meet our students and start making connections, either to bring them in on a short-term basis or to start building relationships to bring them on long-term. … And I tell all students they should come (to the Career Expo) at least to practice.”
Walker-Payne said the Career Expo will host a variety of businesses and organizations that would employ people from a range of academic backgrounds and majors.
Among the organizations expected: Baptist Health, Clark Memorial Hospital, UPS, KentuckyOne Health, Louisville Visual Art, Northwestern Mutual, Spectrum, River City Bank, St. Joseph Children’s Home and Volunteers of America.
Students are expected to wear professional attire that would be appropriate for a job interview and to have plenty of copies of their resume to hand out.
Walker-Payne said students should take advantage of the career development resources offered by Spalding, including resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, job search strategies and aptitude counseling.
Spalding students and alumni also have access to the online content and tools of the College Central Network, which includes a job board, resume and portfolio builders, networking contacts and links to podcasts about career and job-search advice.