Career Fair Educates the Masses

By Jessica Miller, Staff Writer

“It was a great event. Any chance to connect students with potential employers is a good use of time,” said Career Planning Director Rob Liddell.  

On Feb. 27, the University held a Career Fair on Campus. The event was hosted by Career Planning along with Career Central. This Career Fair brought numerous opportunities to students for employment and internships. However, one must take advantage of the opportunity to network and to gather information if they want valuable employment. Multiple companies were at the University Career Fair seeking intelligent students ready for a career or internship experience. Here are brief opportunities that these companies offer below.  

• Spherion Staffing is located in Brooksville, FL, and has eleven locations in the state. There company helps with locating jobs and careers for people. For more information, contact Lindsey Hack at lindseyhack@spherion.com.  

• The U.S. Army had a table set-up at the Career Fair. They wanted to remind students that that they can still find full time positions. They are located at the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel. For more information, contact Richard G. Harris at Richard.harris@usarec.army.mil. – 
•  Kforce matches “job seekers and employers” to jobs and careers that are mostly selective to technology, finance and accounting, and health information management. For more information, contact Jamaal Jankins at jjenkins@kforce.com.  
• Total Quality Logistics is a company that is involved with sales. Careers with them offer multiple benefits, provide opportunities, and allow the ability to advance in the company. For more information, contact Katie Fields (Davis) at kdavis@tql.com.  
• The Spirit FM is set at 90.5 and is looking to fill internships and jobs for radio. For more information, contact John Morris at jmorris@spiritfm905.com.  
• Ultimate Staffing has offices located in Hillsborough County. Their motto is “We love to create remarkable experiences … Every person, every time.” For more information, contact Katie Majeski at kmakeski@ultimatestaffing.com.  

• The YMCA is a non-profit organization looking for leadership skills from all majors. For more information, contact AJ Hernandez at aj.hernandez@tampaymca.org.  
• The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is looking for people with integrity to obtain careers in law enforcement detection or child protection. For more information, contact Detective Don Metcalf at dmetcalf@hcso.tampa.fl.us.  
• The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is also hiring. They are looking for child protective investigation trainees and detention deputies. For more information, contact Human Resources at (727) 844-7791.  
• Other companies and organizations include: Tree of Life Liberia, Northwestern Mutual, Federal Bureau of Investigation, ConnectWise, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Applebee’s and Challenging Ideas.   

There are some students and staff members that are looking to continue their education. Sadly, no university can teach all majors; thus, some might want to venture into looking into selecting Graduate Programs that accommodate well to that student’s needs in education.The University is not the only choice. Below is a sample of schools of higher learning in the area that attended the Career Fair.  

• Florida Coastal School of Law gives primary focus into the different types of law, skills, and careers. This school also offers certificate programs and helps with obtaining internships and externships. From more information, please send an e-mail to admissions@fcsl.edu.  
• Nova Southeastern University is the largest private school in the southeast United States. It is often thought of as a school that mostly dominates the sciences. While it has many tools and facilities, such as the new Oceanographic Center, it offers many other majors that include education, law, and art. For more information, contact Tony Thompson at anththom@nsu.nova.edu  
• Our very own Saint Leo University offers Graduate Programs in Education, Business, Social Work, Theology and Criminal Justice. The University offers a one year international and experiential program that includes taking classes for Fall, Spring and Summer while doing an internship and an international trip. For more information, contact Angella Simmons at angella.simmons@saintleo.edu.   
• Stetson University and Stetson University College of Law specializes in Law and Business studies when it comes to graduate programs, but also has available graduate programs in English and Education. Students can start the program in Spring, Summer, or Fall for quicker entry. For more information contact Jamie Vanderlip at jlszarol@stetson.edu.  
• University of South Florida offers over 100 graduate programs which make them devised and skilled in many areas. For students that would like to continue on toward a doctorate, USF has over 30 doctorate programs that are diverse. For more information, contact Malcolm Edward Randolph at MRandolph@usf.edu.  

• The University of Tampa offers Graduate Programs in Business, Education, Nursing and Fine Arts. 90 percent of their faculty has their highest degree of study, which gives excellent mentorship to students. Located close to the heart of Tampa, it is near many of the businesses looking for interns or employees. For more information, contact Megan Kinney at mkinney@ut.edu.   
• Webber International University focuses on Business Graduate Studies. According to the Webber International University website: “The M.B.A. program is designed to utilize in-class instruction, modern information technology, team projects, and practical consulting experience to prepare its graduates for global business competition.” For more information, contact Billie Lynn Kayworth at KayworthBL@webber.edu.  

Mr. Liddell emphasized that it is of major importance that students have the same equal opportunities of those students at larger universities and colleges. Since students of the University do not have as much direct access to internships and employment as other campuses, having a Career Fair right on campus grounds is an opportunity that should be taken advantaged of. For information to future Career Fairs, Career Planning would like to source out more employers and leaders in industry for students. Although, the biggest improvement Mr. Liddell would like to see is in communication. 

“I believe we as professions, as staff, have difficulties communicating with students.”  

The largest issue with this program was gathering students and attendees. While 109 attended, that is still a small number compared to the mass that are eligible and in need of internships and/or employment.  

“You have to do what you have to do, so that you can then do what you want to do,” said Mr. Liddell.    

In addition, there will be another Career Fair this semester located at the University of Tampa. The CCFCC Career Expo of 2013 will be on Thursday, April 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. For more information on resumes, networking, interviews and cover/thank you letters, seek out Career Planning to get prepared.