The Kibbie Dome football field of 158 employers welcomed in professionally dressed students of all ages and majors with ready resumes at the Career Fair Wednesday.
Students checked in with their Vandal Cards or emails upon entry and received a personal nametag with their major and a sticker color-coded to their college. Each employment booth had matching stickers posted, so students could easily find the employers seeking their skills.
“I’m looking for someone that is driven, self-motivated, ambitious and futuristic,” said Johnny Bedba of AMP Start, a security company that hires around 300 college students a year. “What stands out to me on resumes is when people have had their own entrepreneur experience — that shows work ethic.”
Various companies like Target, Micron, E. & J. Gallo Winery and J.R. Simplot welcomed opportunities for all majors. Each booth correspondingly supplied detailed information about their company, what it would be like to work there and often gave out free samples like pens, keychains, candy and energy drink shots.
“I want to make successful, worthwhile connection in order to land me a stellar job,” said senior Braeden Churchill, an actuarial science and finance major. “My top pick would be Clear Water Analytics because of their high focus on business and finance analytics.”
The University of Idaho Career Services said students seeking jobs now or in the future should be prepared, professional and patient. Before approaching the Career Fair, already have employers of interest in mind. The office also suggests learning how to sell yourself and always bring a polished resume.
Students browse different career options at the Career Fair in the Kibbie Dome Wednesday afternoon.
From an employer’s perspective, Bedba’s main advice to college job-seekers is to be confident and open-minded. Bedba said people often box themselves in to one job idea — an engineer major only looks at engineering jobs. Bedba said students should look at jobs they would never initially think about because diversity in experiences makes a person more marketable.
“It’s a real-life experience, talking to real-life employers,” said junior Hayden Pratt, who is graduating from the College of Business and Economics. “It’s important to make a couple laughs around the place before you talk to someone.”
Students were given the opportunity to take a 15-question survey in exchange for candy bars on the way out. There was also a LinkedIn photobook set up, which took students’ professional photos, edited them and sent them back to the students via email, free of charge.
Claire McKeown can be reached at [email protected]