The unemployment rate for recent college grads with at least a bachelor’s degree has risen to 5.1 percent, the highest it has been since 1970, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the overall unemployment rate in America at 9.1percent, people from all walks of life are readily looking for employment.
To help students take advantage with the current job market, the fall 2011 Career Expo will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Students and alumni are welcomed to attend.
The Career Expo will provide students with an opportunity to network and recruit within businesses from the surrounding area. Students can obtain employer information, internships and employment opportunities. There will be 75 different companies from local, state and nonprofit industries, including General Mills, PepsiCo, Inc. and Proctor & Gamble.
To get students prepared for this event, Delores Dean, director of career expo, did promoting through classroom presentations, passing out flyers and various social media sites.
“More than 1,200 students attended last year’s expo,” said Dean. “I want more students to come out because of the economy and the recession we are facing today.”
Dean said the expo could lead to full-time employment.
“It’s an opportunity for students to invest in their future employment goals or plans,” Dean said.
“I believe that it is very innovative,” Samey Levers, a third-year English student, said. “It allows FAMU students to get an opportunity that otherwise would not be allotted to us. Most of us are here as first generational students. An event like this prepares us for what is to come.”
Students must have an updated resume, proper identification and business attire to attend the event. Students who need assistance designing a resume can go to the career center on campus.