A lean, competitive job market is a concern for thousands of students across the country. So today in the Culp Center, from noon-3 p.m., ETSU will give students the opportunity to mingle with representatives from 33 companies, ranging from the FBI to WJHL-TV, at the Multicultural Career Fair.
International Programs, Career Placement and Internship Services and Multicultural Affairs in conjunction with Black History Month are sponsoring the fair.
Companies will be looking for graduating students and those wanting to participate in summer internship programs.
Carmen Bradley, assistant in the office of student affairs, said the fair is an opportune time for students to make connections with the business community, gain experience talking with recruiters and focus on the jagged landscape of today’s job market.
Bradley said a day doesn’t go by without companies calling ETSU to post job openings and that the career placement office at ETSU works closely with all of the businesses attending the fair.
She said coming prepared to impress recruiters is important and that dressing appropriate and bringing multiple copies of resumes to hand out are good ideas.
Gathering resumes from students is part of why companies attend this event each year and wearing suitable attire to greet potential employers is professional.
“Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared,” she said.
Breaking into the job market hasn’t been this hard since the Gulf War.
Certain professions are in demand and some aren’t. “Waiting for employers to seek you out is not a very good idea,” said Calvin Purvis, assistant director Career Placement and Internship Services.
Purvis said if a student doesn’t find anything that sparks their interest at the fair they can always come by the career placement office on the third floor of the Culp Center.

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