The annual Career Fair hit earlier this week. Missouri Southern sported 103 vendors to cover a wide variety of fields.

The Student Employment Center set it up to expose students to interactive side of the employment sector. Open interviews were held and several students were hired on the spot. “We’ve had some good candidates stop by,” Garrett H Dowling, from Modern Holdman, Fraternal Financial, said “some of the ones come by [sic] are promising.”  

Many companies offer full time, part time, and volunteer positions. They also recruited from all grade levels. Chain companies, such as Kum & Go and Buckle, were looking to hire to for management positions. Manufacturing companies like Atec Steel, Bemis, and EFCO were looking to hire floor workers. Large scale conglomerates like Jack Henry, Ducommun La Barge, and Mid-tec were looking for accounting interns.  “The employers tell us they like to start a relationship with the students early,” Nicole Brown, Director of Career Services, said, “[last year] one student left the career with three interviews and collected a position later that week.” Despite the number of hires, many jobs were left unclaimed. Accounting jobs especially were wanting at the end. The companies that attended the Career fair often use Hire-a-Lion and are likely to post their listings there. Employment companies and websites like Work Kansas and Peoplelink Staffing Solutions encouraged attendees to check online for more opportunities. Summer positions and internships for the following year will become available during the fall.  

“I liked it,” Paul Moore, International studies major sophomore, said, “Very beneficial as far as finding jobs for the summer.”  

Some career fields were more represented than others. Law enforcement and caregiving had ten institutions a piece in the fair. There were also graduate schools from the surrounding area. Programs included were accounting, law, teaching, health, and business. Eleven colleges in total were present. 

The event was well received by students as it has been for more than seven years and will likely continue into the next year. While this event is only once annually, smaller field specific career fairs are present throughout the year.