OCCC hosts businesses seeking employees
Chavon McMillian
Staff Writer
Job seekers can expect to talk to scores of potential employers at the annual Job Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, in the College Union.
A Health Professions Job Fair will be held the same day, running from noon to 6 p.m.
Attending the job fairs can be beneficial for students looking at opportunities for future employment, as well as those needing work right now, said Judi McGee, Employment Services coordinator.
“It’s an opportunity to meet with hiring managers to find out what they are looking to hire in various positions,” she said.
“It’s also a chance to find out what coursework they want you to have taken and to learn about possible education assistance.”
Although the unemployment rate in Oklahoma has dropped to 6 percent as of December, reports www.BLS.gov, job hunting is still tough, said OCCC student Jennifer Janousek.
“It’s hard to find a lot of good paying jobs because they’re more strict. They require more of applicants,” Janousek said.
Students who need assistance with building a high-quality résumé can get help from Student Employment and Career Services, McGee said.
She said workers are available to assist students with résumés and other employment tools.
The department is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Janousek said she has used these resources and she was pleased with outcome.
“[Student Employment and Career Services] has helped me a lot,“ Janousek said.
After actively seeking employment for more than six months, Janousek said she knew she needed to do something different.
“They helped me completely redo my cover letter and tweak my résumé,” she said. The goal was to help grab employers’ interest. They know what they are doing.”
McGee said some students believe they have no work history to include on a résumé.
“Sometimes they have a job history but they don’t think about it,” she said.
Volunteer work and independent services such as mowing lawns all count as job history.
Students who do not have a job history can still benefit from the Job Fair, McGee said.
Some jobs offer incentives to future employees and pay portions of college tuition.
“It’s worthwhile to go and find out what is being offered,” she said.
Several employers including Frito Lay, Integris Health, Tinker Credit Union and OU Medical Center have already signed up to attend the fair. And more are still signing up, McGee said.
A complete list of the companies will be posted online as soon as possible, McGee said.
She said students are encouraged to dress professionally, review standard interview questions that might be asked, and bring several copies of their updated résumés.
Copies of standard interview questions can be obtained in Student Employment and Career Services, McGee said.
For more information contact Student Employment and Career Services at 405-682-7519, or e-mail at employmentservices@occc.edu.
