Career Fair returns: Students gather to build connections

Students congregated at North Campus in hopes of making connections with various employers. 

On Sept. 26, over 600 students gathered in the LaHaye Multipurpose Center dressed in professional attire and with resumes in hand. In the past, the Career Fair has catered to all majors simultaneously, but this year the idea of a focus on specific schools seemed to be more beneficial to students and employers. This Career Fair focused on Liberty’s School of Business and School of Communication & the Arts. 

“This was the first integration of the business and communication schools in a Career Fair,” Assistant Director of Employer Relations Matt Young said. “This way provides a better experience for employers and students to build those connections in the job field they are interested in.”

This event, hosted by Career Services, allowed students to explore possible entry-level jobs and internship positions. Assistant Director of Career Coaching Sarah Fendrich emphasized the positive outcomes for those who decide to attend the fair.

“It opens up your opportunities and exposes you to all the employers there are in the area,” Fendrich said. “These events also let the students get some practical experience on campus and (get) them to understand how to market and brand those skills.”

For senior Lauren Koehler, the Career Fair was a place where she could expand the horizons in her future even further.

“I already have a job when I graduate, so that takes a lot of the stress off when I come to these types of events,” Koehler said. “But I still wanted to come out because I just wanted to practice my networking skills and see what’s out there because I don’t know how long I will be at the company I’m going to work for.”

Career Services also provides the opportunity for students to meet with career coaches, who can help guide and prepare them for events like these. Natalie Dyess, the career coach for the School of Communication and School of Music, explains how a career coach can be beneficial for students.

“I meet with a lot of students — helping them prepare for their careers, get resumes ready and … do mock interviews,” Dyess said. “It comes down to being able to communicate, eye contact and being able to talk very comfortably with an employer. Those things are skillsets that students can definitely work on and be more familiar (with) in this type of environment.”

According to the many mentors on Liberty’s campus, the best time to start preparing for one’s future career is the moment students step onto campus. Being proactive in the job search process and refining personal skills can really set a student apart from other candidates.

“Think strategically about your career,” Dyess said. “Think about what (it) is that you want to do after graduation and how you can incorporate experiences into your time here at school, whether it’s academics, internships or things of that nature. Even thinking about your CSER being aligned with your major, so when you come out, you come out a really strong candidate for jobs because you have a lot of experiences on your resume.”

There are four more Career Fairs left in the fall semester. Students can find out more about the upcoming Career Fairs for their school or schedule to meet with a career coach on the Career Services website. 

Teel is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion