LA PLATA, Md. (March 25, 2010)—The College of Southern Maryland is hosting its annual Tri-County Job and Career Fair for students and community members at the La Plata Campus Thursday, April 8. Businesses throughout Southern Maryland will be recruiting for current job openings as well as advising on future career opportunities and internships within their organizations.
Presented by the college’s Career Services office, the job fair brings more than 40 area employers representing area hospitals; utility, real estate and insurance companies; federal and local government; and non-profit organizations to the campus.
In addition to employer booths and an internship showcase, Career Services will have a Resume RX table staffed by career professionals who will review and provide feedback and recommendations to participants throughout the day. From noon to 1 p.m. a workshop on navigating the federal job search process will provide tips, instructions and information on how to interpret job postings, using the USJobs.gov web site and preparing KSA (knowledge, skills and abilities) entries on federal applications.
“A lot of people make the mistake of going to a job fair unprepared,” said Career Services Coordinator Lisa Warren. “There is a lot of work to do before you get there if you want to make the most of your day and if you want to make the best first impression.”
Attendees should be ready to sit for an interview with an employer on the spot, said Warren. “That means you are dressed as you would be for an interview, you have a polished resume in hand and you have practiced how you will answer questions about your experience and goals,” she added.
To help students and other job seekers prepare for the job fair, Career Services’ has several tutorials and an interactive practice interview online. A Webinar presentation, by Rob Sullivan, author of “Getting Your Foot in the Door, When You Don’t Have a Leg to Stand On,” called “Unlocking the Hidden Value of Your Story,” provides tips on how to communicate your goals and your value to a potential employer.
For information on CSM’s Career Services and a list of employers participating in the Job and Career Fair, visit
www.csmd.edu/CareerServices/.
To access the webinar “Unlocking the Hidden Value of Your Story,” visit
csmd.interviewstream.com/webinar/.