More than 300 students filtered in and out of the Career Management Center’s Part-Time Networking Job Fair on Sept. 7. Booths lined the inside of Comanche Suites, where 26 businesses and 21 volunteer opportunities had representatives waiting for students to come up and ask questions.
“A number of students sat in the atrium and filled out applications immediately, and some of the employers said they had a lot of really great applicants,” Stephanie Sullivan, assistant director of the Career Management Center, said. “Overall, we were very happy with the turnout.”
Carla Dowen, Habitat for Humanity director of marketing and development, said she was excited to be part of the job fair this year.
“We love volunteers and we’re always looking for them,” Dowen said. “Even if you don’t know how to do something, we have someone on the job site who can teach you whatever you need to know.”
Habitat for Humanity partners with low-income families to build safe, decent housing, according to Dowen. She clasped her hands together and smiled as she discussed the benefits of volunteering with them.
“What better resumé builder than to say you’ve volunteered with Habitat for Humanity?” Dowen said. “[Volunteering] is a great way to mingle with other people and be able to give back to the community at the same time.”
Wichita Falls Museum of Art Director Francine Carraro said that she typically hires six or seven student workers every semester, and she meets many of them at the job fair.
“This is a good place to meet the students and let them know what the job entails,” Carraro said. “We look for energetic, enthusiastic, wonderful students wo care about what we do here.”
Carraro said that they have receptionist positions and front desk attendant positions available. She also said they will need workers to help with the various events that the museum participates in.
“The only problem is that since our workers are students, they just keep graduating,” Carraro said. “But that’s why we come out and search for new students. We always get really hard workers and we just love them.”
Both Dowen and Carraro said that they were pleased with the turnout. Carraro had 50 applications printed, but ended up having to print an extra 25 more before the job fair was over.
“It started out slow, but it picked up a lot around lunch time,” Dowen said. “We were all very busy talking to students almost the whole time.”
Students such as accounting sophomore Oneida Mireles encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity next time.
“I came because I need a paying job, and I ended up finding the perfect job for me,” Mireles said. “I suggest all students come to this event whenever it’s offered again.”
