Newsletter - Springfield Technical Community College

Building 27, 2nd Floor (413)755-4464 Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm (year-round)
March 2015
Career Fair 2015
College Career Centers of Western Massachusetts Career Fair 2015
STCC Students and Alumni
Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this event!
Full-time, part-time, co-op, and internship positions will be available
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with recruiters who
represent a wide variety of industries
at
Springfield College
Blake Arena
Thursday, March 26, 2015
1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
HOSTED BY:
American International College
Bay Path College
Elms College
Holyoke Community College
Springfield College
Springfield Technical Community College
Western New England University
Westfield State University
For more information, please contact the office of Cooperative Education/Career Services and
Transfer Affairs at [email protected] .
HOW TO WORK A Career FAIR
Most people think the object of a job fair is to get a job. It’s not. The employers at a job fair are most often
recruiters and not the people in charge of making hiring decisions. It is very rare that you might be hired on the
spot at a job fair.
Instead, your mission is to get contact information and try to get interviews. But to do this effectively requires a
bit of pre-planning and some strategizing. In a place with hundreds of employers and hundreds of job seekers, it
can be hard to make the right connection with employers. Here are some tips to help you.
GET READY TO RUMBLE!
Take your resume! Take the time to put your resume on quality bond paper and bring one copy for every
employer expected to be there. You may not need them all, but it’s better to have too many than too few. Do not
fold or crease your resumes; put them in a folder to keep them wrinkled free. You probably won’t need your
references, but bring 5-10 copies with you anyway, just in case.
You can usually find a list of employers expected to be at the job fair and the positions they are hiring for on the
internet or in the newspaper. You should make up a list of the employer’s you want to see and take it with you;
if don’t have enough time to see every employer, make sure you see those on your list.
Dress professionally. A job fair is a professional recruitment event and you want to look your best. Dress as you
would for an interview. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet for an hour or more.
Bring a bag! You will be picking up a lot of stuff and you’ll need a place to put it! Ideally, you will bring a bag that
can be slung on or across your shoulder to leave your hands free.
Leave your coat in the car or bring a light weight one. You want your hands free as possible so you can shake
hands and get at your resumes without juggling. Bring water! At most job fairs there is either no free water or no
water at all.
READY…SET…GO!
On the day of the job fair, try to go early. The employers get tired, too, and it’s harder to have a quality
conversation with a tired recruiter who may not really be listening to you. Try to go first thing in the morning. If
you have to go later in the day, avoid lunchtime (12-1). Most employers will be away from their tables and you
won’t get any face time with them.
Grab a program on your way in and check out the floor plan. It’s a good idea to see as many employers as you
can. Try to circulate around the room in an orderly pattern: if you leapfrog around you will tend to lose track of
whom you have seen.
Don’t stand in line! There’s no point to standing in line; while you are doing that, lines are forming elsewhere.
Make a note to revisit that employer and move on.
Put your resume in the hands of everyone you talk to (even if they don’t have work for you at this time.
Something may come up in the future) and make sure you get a business card back from them! If they don’t
have a business card, ask for their name, title and phone number and write it down on the company’s job
description.
Don’t assume; talk to the employers! Many companies do not advertise every position they have available at
the moment. You should talk to the employer to truly find out if they have any position for you or not. Give them
your resume and introduce yourself. You should have an introduction that takes sixty seconds or less to say
your name and what type of work you are looking for. For instance, Hi! I’m Jim and I have three years of
experience as an administrative assistant. Are you currently hiring administrative or support staff?” or “Hi! I’m
Brenda. I have two years of experience doing accounting and bookkeeping type work. Do you currently have
any positions available for someone with my qualifications?”
Start with conversation, not with grabbing goodies! You’re there to get a job: the free pens are just icing on the
cake. But if you start by grabbing pens off the table, it sends the message you’re there for the free pens and the
job is the icing. There will be time enough for pens later.
Make sure the company’s name is on the job descriptions you pick up. If not, write it down while you are at the
table!
POST–GAME WRAP-UP
Follow up! Send a thank-you card to everyone you talked with. In the thank-you note, re-iterate the type of work
you are looking for, your skills, and repeat any parts of the conversation that were really important. For
instance, “As we discussed, I will call you Tuesday to set up an interview for the Area Supervisor position.” This
follow-up is critical. Recruiters at a job fair will speak to hundreds of job seekers. For you to stand out of the
crowd, you will need to make them remember you. A thank-you note that contains good details will go a long
way!
Prepared and maintained by Terri Bruce ([email protected]) Updated copies may be found at
www.KingAndBruce.com This document is not to be sold. This document may be copied and redistributed as
long as the footer with the preparer’s name and restrictions on distribution remain intact.
Prepared and maintained by Terri Bruce ([email protected]) Updated copies may be found at
www.KingAndBruce.com
Examples of appropriate attire for men and women:
Mistakes to Avoid: Avoid the obvious! This is not the time to put a recruiter on the spot! Past or present
frustrations about any aspect of the employment or the job market should be forgotten. This is the time to
exhibit enthusiasm, initiative, and humor. A positive attitude is essential. As participants in a career fair, every
effort should be made to have the event be informative, pleasant, and productive for everyone. Good manners
are always in style! “Seize the day, and trust as little as you may tomorrow!” For this one-day, try to remember
Horace’s philosophy at the time he wrote those words. Concentrate on long-term goals, and apply Horace’s
words to the preparation and enjoyment of a career fair. Carpe Diem!
Other Career Fair Events in March 2015
Salem State University Career Fair
Monday, March 2, 2015
10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Gassett Fitness and Recreation Center
Salem, MA
Westfield State University Job & Internship Fair
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
(snow date: April 8, 2015)
1:30 pm - 4 pm
Scanlon Banquet Hall
Employers: Click here to register!
Candidates: List of Attending Agencies
Open to the Public!
Castleton College Spring Career and Graduate School Fair
Thursday, March 19, 2015
11:30 am - 2 pm
Castleton, VT
On-Campus Employer and Military Recruitment
Date
Employer
Thurs., March 26
C&S Wholesale
Recruiter
Irene Seder
Note: All recruiters will be in Scibelli Hall, Building 2, near the cafeteria from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is open to all
students who may be looking for a job or to get information. Please check with our department for updates on additional
recruiters coming to campus during March.
Find the Full -time, Part -time, Cooperative Education or Internship
Opportunity You’ve Dreamed About at
www.myinterfase.com/stcc/student
The Career Services Office at Springfield Technical Community College implemented a career
automation program called Career Net to provide students/alumni with an easy to use system
where you can view a large number of jobs and find the one that is a perfect match for you!
Career Net also has a couple of new features: (1). The Resume Creator which has thirteen
resume samples and an intuitive, customizable form that students/alumni will be able to use to
create and save their resumes. (2) thecampuscareercoach. com which provides practical career
questions to College students. Students and alumni have access to a career coach who will
respond to questions via e-mail free of charge.
Why Should You Join
Participation is free and you will gain the ability to:
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Search for job opportunities 24/7
Inquire about or apply for jobs online
Participate in career/transfer events
Schedule on campus job interviews
Manage multiple resumes, cover letters and
other employment related documents
 Access an on-line career resource library
How to Get Started
Contact the Career Services Office today to register and benefit immediately from
Springfield Technical Community College’s Career Net (On-line Career Center)
Office of Cooperative Education/Career Services and Transfer Affairs
M-F, 8-4 p.m., Bldg. 27, Rm. 265, [email protected], (413) 755-4464
Career Assessment Tool
Career Services is pleased to announce that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
is available to current STCC students to assist them in determining their personality type and personal
style. Students who wish to take this assessment tool will find that it will be instrumental in helping them to
make important decisions that will help guide them through their College; career development process and
throughout life.
Notable Benefits of the MBTI:
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Nurtures and retains students by helping them understand their preferred learning style
Develops students’ leadership skills
Helps reduce classroom conflict
Provides students the opportunity to explore careers best suited to their type preferences
Creates an atmosphere of understanding and clear communication
Teaches students about their type preferences, interactions with others, strengths, and opportunities
for growth
Provides valuable self-knowledge that extends well beyond the classroom or career center
Creates a foundation for effectively engaging students in the use of personality type concepts of the
MBTI
Students are welcome to schedule an appointment to meet with a Career Services/Certified MBTI
Practitioner to discuss and obtain instructions on how to take the assessment and its guidelines for doing
so. After completing the assessment students are required to schedule another appointment for
interpretation and counseling.
For more information, please contact this department; Building 27, 2nd Fl., Rm. 265, M-F, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00
p.m. at (413) 755-4464, Fax: (413) 755-6316, E-mail: [email protected].
Cooperative Education
An engineering professor at University of Cincinnati, Herman Schneider, established the first program in cooperative
education. In 1906, Dean Schneider recognized two problems in educating engineering students. First, many engineering
techniques could not be reinforced effectively in the classroom. Second, his students needed to work; they needed to earn
money. Why not have the students employed in jobs that reinforce these classroom skills? Practical, yes! Possible? Herman
Schneider found the solution!
Cooperative Education is still solving these same two problems for students all over the world. Approximately 250,000
students are enrolled in cooperative education programs at over one thousand colleges in United States. Other countries
actively participating in CO-OP are Canada, Jamaica, Brazil, Venezuela, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Germany, The
Netherlands, Egypt, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Nigeria, South Africa, The Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
Universities in China, Denmark, and Poland are currently exploring the promotion of transnational work exchanges with
industry to produce skilled professionals.
Why do students participate? Many benefits emerge from the cooperation of industry and the classroom. The student has
a job, is paid, and has a clearer sense of career and purpose. Experience in one's major reinforces classroom learning and
increases the motivation to stay in college and achieve higher grades. Through the help of the faculty coordinator,
performance in the work situation is assessed and the student is apprised of the result. Human nature being what it is, many
supervisors are reluctant to praise employees; however, poor work is mentioned immediately! At the on-site visit, a faculty
coordinator will hear the good news and tell the student. Something wonderful happens inside us when we learn that we are
doing a good job. This is the encouragement a student needs to develop his talent and pursue a satisfying career. A very
practical application of this experience is a higher-than-average starting salary on the permanent job. All of these benefits
are gained while earning college credit! Cooperative Education: A real bargain!
Why do employers participate? Co-op is an employer's dream. Look at what the employer gets, a pre-screened employee
from a college for a limited period of time without having to pay a service fee! Supervisors need well-trained, enthusiastic,
responsible employees with a higher-than-normal performance level. An employer will take the risk and hire trained
applicants for fifteen weeks. A short commitment! Nothing to lose! The "fit" of a person in a department is sometimes
more of a problem than the skill requirement. The CO-OP system may be used as a testing ground to identify and select a
person with the required traits and talents. Also, on-the-job training is reduced when hiring a Co-op student; the applicant
has acquired the basic skills in the classroom. In addition, by hiring Co-op students for routine duties, an employer is free
to use high-priced skilled workers on more complex tasks. An efficient use of human resources!
*Contact the STCC Office of Cooperative Education/Career Services and Transfer Affairs for more information.
Helpful Career and Job Search Web sites
http://www.stcc.edu/coop/diversityLinks.asp
Top 15 Job Search Sites
Transfer Affairs
College Transfer On-Campus Recruitment
Date
College/University
Representative
Mon., March 2
Wed., March 4
Mon., March 9
Tues., March 10 (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm)
Tues., March 10
Wed., March 11 (4:00 pm -6:00 pm)
Thurs., March12
Mon., March 23
Thurs., March 26
Westfield State University
American International College
Western New England University
Westfield State University DCE
Springfield College
UMass-UWW
Elms College
UMass-Lowell
Elms Social Work
Emily Gibbings
Jillian Albert
Michael Russell
Jose Lopez-Figueroa
Anne Griffin
Jose Delgado
Jae Bergman
Gerry Durkin
Ben Conrick
Note: All college representatives will be located in Scibelli Hall, Bldg. 2 near the cafeteria area from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Stop by or call our office to find out what other college and university representatives will be on campus during March. This
is open to all students. The reps will be available to answer any questions that you may have.
Important Transfer Information
http://www.stcc.edu/coop/transferAffairs.asp
http://www.stcc.edu/coop/massTransfer.asp
STAFF
Pamela J. White, Director
Susan S. Johnson, Secretary
Follow us on Twitter: @STCCWorks