Missouri Southern State University will be hosting its annual Spring Career Fair in Billingsly Student Center on March 11. Having 100+ businesses and organizations in attendance, the event encourages students to consider their future after graduation. At the event, students will have the opportunity to speak with businesses aligned with their desired career paths, discussing potential part-time jobs, internships, and full-time career level jobs.
Alex Gandy, director of Career Services, encourages students to consider participating in the event. “Attending the MSSU Spring Career Fair is more than just “trying to get a job,” says Gandy. “A career fair is an opportunity to gain exposure, confidence, and professional knowledge that many students whose families already work in professional fields often learn informally.”
Recruited through partnerships and pathways, the businesses and organizations at the event include businesses located in the local Joplin area. According to Gandy, employers, including Mercy Health System, Freeman Health System, City of Joplin, Leggett and Platt, Arvest Bank, Schubert Mitchell, and many others “have established long lasting recruiting relationships with MSSU.”
Along with this, regions from surrounding areas, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Bentonville, and Springfield are also involved in the career fair. “Businesses and organizations requesting a table at the Spring Career Fair are reviewed and approved by the Career Services office based upon career aligning with our academic degree programs and student career interests,” explains Gandy.
Over the years, the career fair has proven to benefit the lives of students. “Last year alone, students were able to get connected with attending businesses and organizations in person that led directly to job interviews and job offers,” shares Gandy. The director of the department advises students to show up with a hopeful mindset. “Be willing to make connections with companies whom you have never heard of.”
Impression is also important for students to consider. Arriving professionally dressed, having copies of a resume, and rehearsing something Gandy refers to as a “elevator pitch,” a short, 2-3 sentence introduction, can sufficiently improve the networking experience. “It is never “too early” to begin preparing for your career,” encourages Gandy. “Whether you are a freshman at Missouri Southern State University, or you are a senior, the Spring Career Fair has something for you.”