SEMO Fall Career Expo connects students with more than 140 employers
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — More than 140 employers came to Southeast Missouri State University on Wednesday for the university’s Fall Career Expo, giving students a chance to explore internships, part-time work and full-time career opportunities.
SEMO said about 250 company representatives attended the event, allowing students to meet employers face-to-face and learn more about opportunities across a wide range of industries.
Dan Presson, assistant vice president of economic and workforce development at SEMO, said the expo is also designed to help students build skills they may need before they ever sit down for a formal job interview.
“Maybe they need to learn how to talk to a recruiter. Maybe they’ve never had the opportunity to shake somebody’s hand. Maybe they just need to have that experience giving an elevator pitch,” Presson said.
For senior marketing and sales student Colby Penrod, the event was his first career expo.
Penrod said he already has an internship but came to the expo because he wants to keep his options open as he gets closer to graduation.
“Every table is a chance. You walk up and ask the right questions, you might have a job there,” Penrod said. “So I’m really excited just to explore all the opportunities here and see if I can find my next future career.”
Presson said events like the expo can also help students understand how important it is to separate themselves from other applicants once they begin applying for jobs.
“In the job market today, it’s how do you showcase your strategic differentiation on your resume?” Presson said. “So what is it that you’ve done that’s different from other candidates, and what is it that’s going to get you noticed by a company that’s looking to fill an opportunity?”
Presson said internships, networking and other hands-on experiences can help students build that distinction before graduation.
The Fall Career Expo is one of the ways SEMO connects students directly with employers while giving them a chance to practice networking and learn what companies are looking for in future hires.
