Originally published in The Western Carolina Journalist.
Western Carolina University’s Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) is hosting its semi-annual Career Fair Plus event for the Spring 2022 semester on Thursday, March 17. The fair will be held in the Ramsey Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Boasting more than 110 employers and graduate schools in attendance, there are plenty of seasonal, part-time, or full-time job, internship, and volunteer opportunities available at the local and national levels.
Sponsors such as Blythe Construction, High Hampton Club and Inn, Mission Health System, NAVAIR, and Phillips and Jordan, will attend the fair. Other employers attending include WarnerMedia/CNN, N.C. State Parks, Biltmore, BMW, Enterprise, Sherwin Williams, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort, and GE Aviation.
The Director of the CCPD, Theresa Cruz Paul, says the fair is an excellent opportunity for students and alumni to network with recruiters, learn about jobs, internships, and graduate schools, and explore a variety of career paths and industries.
Cruz Paul also encourages students to research organizations ahead of time and be proactive in engaging with companies.
“You never know when a single conversation can lead to a fantastic internship or experience you weren’t expecting,” says Cruz Paul.
A full list of the employers and schools attending the career fair can be found on JobCat. After clicking on the Career Fair Plus event, scroll down and click on the hyperlink “See Who’s Coming” to view an updated list of fair attendees.
There will be several workshops to help students prepare for the career fair. The Career Fair Prep and Job Searching Strategies workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 2, from 6:15-7:15 p.m. in Forsyth 313. It will be hosted by the CCPD, WCU Management Club and DegreePlus. The workshop will cover job searching strategies, resumes, and 30-second commercials, which are brief statements that identify your goals, accomplishments, etc.
The CCPD also offers drop-in sessions for students with busy schedules. Drop-in sessions will be held on Monday, Feb. 28, and Wednesday, March 2. Students can drop by the office of Intercultural Affairs in the University Center anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to get their career fair questions answered.
Traditionally, the CCPD hosts career fairs for specific industries. This semester, the CCPD will host an education career fair on Tuesday, March 29 in addition to the Career Fair Plus. The education career fair, where more than 30 school districts will attend, will take place in the UC Grand Room from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
More information about the career fair and other upcoming events can also be found on Engage and the CCPD’s website.