Grand Valley State University’s Winter Career & Internship Fair will happen this Thursday from 1-5 p.m. at the DeVos Place Convention Center.
Event organizers anticipate 230 vendors, with over one thousand positions open for students to apply. The University’s Career Center is offering resources to prepare students for the fair and their future careers.
Senior Associate Director and Internship Specialist Rachel Becklin says many students will be attending the fair for the very first time, which the center is preparing for.
“We’ve had a lot of students say this is their first fair, which is exciting,” Becklin said. “We’ve been working with students to help with that information, and we have some great resources on our site.”
Becklin says many students are worried their course of study may not be represented at the career fair, and subsequently don’t attend. However, Becklin assured that there will be something for everyone.
“Sometimes the career fair can be perceived as being for specific majors or (for) students who are (about to graduate), but it really is a fair for students of all majors,” Becklin said.
Aside from the career fair itself, Becklin noted resources provided by the center in preparation for the event.
”This week, we’ve had drop-in, open house events where students come in, ask questions to get ready for the fair and get their resumes reviewed,” said Becklin. “We also had ‘Employers of the Day’ on campus, so those are more informal opportunities for students to connect with individual employers.”
For students in need of advice prior to the fair, the CareerLab within the center holds drop-in hours Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We will be keeping that open all semester, but also through the career fair,” Becklin said.
Career Center Student Assistant Raeana Bolden feels the center’s resources are beneficial, especially leading up to the fair. She said services include resume and cover letter building and headshots.
“We can also do appointments for students to do mock interviews so they understand how to operate and navigate interviews,” Bolden said.
The center’s online resources, including career insight and graduate school planning, aim to be a source of relief to any student experiencing feelings of uncertainty.
Beckin highlighted Career Communities, a networking pool for students that reflects their respective course of study.
“There’s lists of employers that are broken down by career community, so if (students) aren’t sure who to connect with, this (lists) will give them an idea of employers in the area,” said Becklin.
A Professional Development Workshop will also happen Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. on the Valley Campus. This event is designed to give career guidance and offer support going into Thursday’s fair.
