As part of Weeks of Welcome, the Office of Career Development and the Office of Student Employment will host NSU’s third annual Student Employment Job Fair on Aug. 28, from 11:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. in the Don Taft University Center Atrium.
Approximately 25 campus offices and employers will be present to discuss open positions, distribute applications and interview candidates in a casual setting. There will be positions available for undergraduate and graduate students of all majors, with or without previous related experience and with or without federal work-study.
“I think it’s a great opportunity, especially for new incoming students, to get some one-on-one time with the hiring supervisors,” said Stacey Levy, coordinator of job location and development.
Carleen Pallante, associate director of The Office of Career Development, said, “It’s a pretty casual event, where they’ll get to meet lots of offices and see what’s available, what’s out there. There really isn’t a particular major that the employers are looking for; it’s across the board. I would definitely encourage students of any major to come.”
Levy estimates that there will be about 30 different types of jobs represented, encompassing up to 200 open positions.
Though most of the participating supervisors and offices are based on main campus, Levy said that America Reads and America Counts is looking to hire about 125 federal work-study students to serve as reading and math tutors at local elementary schools.
NSU’s Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale will also have supervisors at the fair.
To be hired, students will still have to go through the Office of Student Employment’s process, which includes completing an online workshop and electronic forms. “We will have sign-in sheets so that the supervisor can write down every person that they see,” said Levy, about the fair. ”The student will check in at every table they visit. Then, when the student does come for student employment, the supervisor may remember them from the job fair.”
Students are highly encouraged to bring a recent resume, though it’s not required for all positions. Cover letters, portfolios and other materials are also not necessary. There are no dress code requirements.
“We are stressing to the supervisors that they might be coming in between classes, so it’s a little bit more informal than a typical job fair, where it’s more like outside companies — suit and tie, that kind of thing,” said Levy. “If people stop in between classes or on their lunch break, it’s OK.”
Yet, Pallante still encourages students to keep their appearance in mind — at the fair and throughout the year.
“It’s important for students to always look their best, because they just never know who they’re going to meet,” she said. “I’m not saying you have to come in a suit. But you probably shouldn’t come in sweatpants.”
Besides not needing to alter their appearance too drastically for the fair, Pallante also encourages students not to alter their personality. “The other tip that I would give is just for them to be themselves,” she said. “The offices are looking for is someone that has a positive attitude and takes initiative and is going to be a hard worker, so if they can communicate that to the offices, they’ll have a pretty good chance.”
In addition to earning a salary, Pallante said that student employment comes with many other benefits.
“One of the greatest things about getting a job on campus is that you are able to start a new career, something you’ve never done before, and try it out — and really develop those transferable skills that could possibly help you get an internship or help you to get your first job,” she said.
The first Student Employment Job Fair, in 2011, was part of SEA Thursday, which meant that it was among many tables set up for student organizations. More than 300 students attended.
“And last year,it was the first time that we did it independently,” said Pallante. “We were like ‘I don’t know if as many people will show up,’ but we actually did better. So, this year, we decided to keep it just us as well.”
She’s more optimistic now, saying “Last year, we had almost 500 students come to the fair, so I’m hoping that we surpass it.”
Registration is not required, but for more information call the Office of Career Development at 954-262-7201.
