DUBOIS – More than just a job fair, a unique event for jobseekers at Penn State DuBois offered a comprehensive look at local employment prospects, complete with networking opportunities and job interviews. The inaugural Networking Luncheon and Career Fair was held in the campus gymnasium on Wednesday, and featured representatives from 35 businesses and organizations ranging from manufacturing, to law enforcement, to healthcare.
The event was organized jointly by the campus office of Student Affairs and the Continuing Education Department, and sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society, GKN Sintered Metals, Brookville Equipment Company, and Farmer’s National Bank. It kicked off with a luncheon for Penn State students and employers, where attendees were able to network and share information. In this more casual setting, students were able to hear what local companies were looking for in employees. After lunch, the industry representatives remained for a formal career fair that was also open to the public, providing a more in-depth profile for students and other jobseekers interested in their companies.
The final stage of the event gave students the chance to actually interview for a job right on the spot. Many of the companies with current openings offered interviews to perspective employees after making initial connections with them during the job fair and networking times.
“We are really excited that we’ve been able to make this event as large as it is, and to offer all of the things that this event offers,” said Rebecca Pennington, campus director of Student Affairs. “This gives students a great chance to start networking and a lot of help finding employment.”
The students who attended found that the extra activities offered in addition to the career fair were very beneficial. Information Science and Technology student Mathew Shultz from Curwensville said, “The opportunity to network really piqued my interest. This gives us a chance to see what’s in the marketplace and what employers are expecting from us. It’s great.”
“It was good to see what employers are looking for,” said student Ronald Lefebvre, who is a first year Information Science and Technology student who used the event for practice for his future job search. “I got to see what employers are looking for so I’ll be more prepared when I start really looking for jobs after graduation.”
For the employers, the Networking Luncheon and Career Fair served as a venue for recruiting quality employees who just completed their education at Penn State DuBois.
“Once we heard about this, it was a no-brainer for us to participate,” said Jason Ebersole, an account executive with Peak Media, a television company. “One thing it helps us do is find the best talent. When you don’t do outreach like this, you don’t see the real folks in the community and the skills that are really out there.”