Career Fair Gives Students Insight into Employment Opportunities

Scores of Students Take Advantage of Networking Event Wilmington College students tapped into what Nina Talley describes as the “hidden job market” during the Spring Career Fair Tuesday afternoon (March 21). (PICTURED) Nathan Bush, a senior majoring in business administration, presents himself to Nichole Sims, Enterprise Rent-a-Car's talent acquisition manager for southwest Ohio, during Tuesday's Career Fair. “Eighty percent of job openings are part of this hidden job market,” said Talley, director of Career Resources. “Career fairs give students an awareness of the companies and organizations, and an awareness of the opportunities that exist. That opens doors!” Indeed, nearly three-dozen businesses, organizations, schools and other entities looking to hire the best and brightest were on hand for the event in WC’s Hermann Court. Talley stressed the importance of networking and students taking advantage of these opportunities — whether they are seniors ready to graduate or first year students looking to build a portfolio of experiences and contacts. “It should start freshman year and, with internships and other hands-on learning experiences, they add another layer each year,” Talley said. “By graduation, they’ll have their toolkits in place. “I’d like to see every student graduate knowing what they’ll be doing — and that is possible if they take advantage of what’s available to them through their academics, co-curricular activities and the Career Resource Center.” She added that company recruiters take note of those students that make good first impressions. “These organizations want to meet students and discuss their career goals and passions,” Talley said. “Often, meeting them can reveal hidden job opportunities that employers are considering, but may not have posted.” Companies participating included: R&L Carriers, which brought their technology trailer, Ahresty Wilmington, Alkermes, ChildCare Careers, Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, City of Wilmington, Clinton County Juvenile Court, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Express Employment Professionals, Five Rivers Metroparks, General Revenue Corp., Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Harvest Land Co-op, Also, McDonald’s, Modern Woodmen of America, Nutter Center, Oakley’s, Ohio Christian University, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Solutions Community Counseling and Recovery Centers, Staffmark, Sunrise Cooperative, Talbert House, The Ranch of Opportunity, Universal Forest Products, Valero Renewable Fuels, Wilmington College, Wilmington Savings Bank and Xavier University.