University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 26, April 10


                      Networking at the Job Fair
              Students and employers benefit from program

     Job Fair-the strategy of bringing employers and job
seekers together for on-the-spot information exchange-has
grown in popularity with students and organizations alike.
     According to Career Services Director Jack Townsend, UD
has kept in step with the times by sponsoring 10 job fairs
this past year, attracting more than 400 employers who bring
their message to students and alumni.
     "Job fairs are a cost-effective way for companies to
meet a large number of potential hires in a relatively short
period of time," Townsend said. "Students like job fairs for
the same reasons. They can network with multiple
organizations in an hour or so without disrupting their busy
academic and extracurricular schedules."
     Drew Hastings, executive director of the Delaware
Association of Non-Profit Agencies, has represented his
organization at several UD job fairs.
     "I like the 'fair' approach," he said, "because we get
maximum exposure to a maximum number of students. The
atmosphere is informal and we do a lot of networking.
Sometimes, a student we meet at a job fair will contact us
several years down the road because of a conversation we had
the day of the fair. Job fairs are a form of networking."
     This year's Spring Career Fair- scheduled Thursday,
April 17, in the Rodney and Ewing rooms of the Perkins
Student Center-will bring 62 regional employers to campus to
recruit students from all majors for full-time jobs after
graduation.
     Networking and information will take place from 1-3
p.m., and interviewing from 3-5 p.m.
     Students will meet representatives from non-profit,
government and for-profit organizations, including such
businesses as Citibank, Delaware State Police, Nike Inc.,
Macy's, Health and Human Services of Delaware, Information
Technology Solutions, MBNA, Public Allies, United States
Customs Service, Nine West Group, John Hancock Financial
Services, AMC Theatres and Boy Scouts of America.
     Seniors and alumni in search of a job or job contacts
are encouraged to visit the Spring Career Fair, Townsend
added.
     On April 23-24, more than 100 school districts will be
participating in Project Search 1997, a job fair for
teachers. Sponsored each Spring by Career Services and UD's
Council on Teacher Education, students and alumni will have
the opportunity to interact with recruiters from school
districts in California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland,
Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia
and Washington, D.C.
     To help students prepare for job fairs, career services
conducts a workshop, called "Working the Job Fair." Students
are coached on how to dress, what questions to ask and how
to get the most out of their experience.
     "Students get a lot more out of participating in a job
fair when they know what to expect ahead of time," Lynn
Jacobson, career services, said. "There also is a video
available in the Career Resource Center that students may
watch for more tips about working the room effectively."
     Call 831-1232 for additional information.
                                          -Marianne E. Green