Editor's Note: Thank you for your patience as we catch up on stories that were sidelined during our coverage of Hurricane Ian!
Georgia Southern hosted its latest and largest career fair -- Eagle Expo -- on Wednesday, September 28th, at the RAC. The event was more generalized than the recent STEM Fair, giving students far more variety in job opportunities. More than 135 employers registered to attend the event.
Students came dressed to impress with resumes in hand. Some searched for jobs or internships, while others simply scouted their options after college.
"I've been coming to the Career Expo since I was a freshman," said Charlie Azbell, a business management major at GSU. "It helped me get an internship over last summer, and right now it's helping me get out and learn how to speak to adults -- people that are in these positions that I'm hopefully one day going to get into."
One valuable and unique offering at the expo was the opportunity for students to have free professional headshots taken on-site.
There were many job opportunities, big and small, available for students to apply for at the expo. Businesses like Target, Waffle House, Parkers, Landmark Construction, and even the U.S. Secret Service were in attendance. Here are some of the standouts at the career fair.
WTOC News
One of the many big-time appearances was WTOC News. There they were offering a myriad of job opportunities for students interested.
"I would say all of them are equally important," said News Director Bari Soash. "We have everything from producers both in news and marketing, we have videographer openings, and we have reporter openings. You know we're always looking for people to come on the team."
For WTOC News, a positive attitude is highly valued.
"We're always looking for positive people that want to come and join,'' Soash added. "Especially because TV news, our job reports on everything, and sometimes that news isn't great. And so sometimes if you can work well with others and have a positive outlook and how we're going to overcome things, it makes for a better employee."
Students who wish to get their foot in the door of the media world can apply at WTOC.com. The deadline to apply for Spring internships for students is November 18th. Students who are looking for a more permanent position can find a list of all the departments they can apply to and their department contacts at https://www.wtoc.com/about-us/contact-us/.
Uline
Uline shipped its way over to Georgia Southern for the Career Expo, as well. Uline is the premiere shipping and industrial supply company in North America, for those unaware.
"Our bread and butter is packaging, but we also do industrial safety supplies, janitorial supplies," said Terry Knox, the Uline Human Resources Manager. "Our business proposition is you order it by 6pm, you'll have it the next day."
The company was looking for entry-level sales positions and interns at the expo. According to Knox, the expo gave them much success, making connections with some students who could potentially be recruited in the near future.
"We want those go-get-em attitudes, you know?" Knox said. "Experience isn't always a key for us. It's really about the ability to talk to people, manage through tough situations, but more importantly care about our customers enough, so they get what they need."
Students who want to apply can do so at https://www.uline.jobs/
Hormel Foods
For students wishing to get into food production, Hormel Foods also offered jobs at the expo. Hormel Foods is a food manufacturing, Fortune 500 company that makes products from pork, chicken, and recently planter foods.
At the expo, Hormel Foods was offering jobs for entry-level positions and internships as well as full-time.
"We're looking for a lot," said Hilary Brennan, Corporate Recruiter at Hormel Foods. "From engineers to quality control, to production operators. And then we also have corporate opportunities, like marketing, sales, finance, accounting -- all those different types of positions are available as well."
Applications can be filled out on the Hormel Foods website at https://ekkh.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/
Career advice from a local expert
Yevette McCall, who owns Southern Pro Staffing in Statesboro, keeps a close eye on the regional job market.
"The job market is solid, and there are many job openings and many candidates," McCall shared. "For right now, this is a candidate-driven market. I would encourage job hunters to start securing positions now in case things change soon. I don't see it changing, but it's always better to be safe than sorry."
The Georgia Southern Office of Career and Professional Development can be of assistance to students looking to join the workforce, and staffing agencies like Southern Pro can be an asset, as well -- not only for potential employees but also for employers.
"Posting and praying no longer works," McCall said of recruiting employees. "Many positions require initial contact, so an organization like Southern Pro can help you find candidates."
"I would say it is still a good time to follow your dreams and make career changes," McCall added. "I always tell people, 'You are not a tree, you can move.'"
