September 20, 2016
The Career Center, in its new home, continues helping students prepare for future
After 100-plus days in its new and inviting home at the Berney Family Welcome Center, the Career Center — formerly known as Career and Employment Services, and the Academic and Career Information Center — is excited to continue connecting students and employers.
The Career Center is sponsoring two events — the All-University Career Fair from Sept. 20-22 and the Majors, Minors and More Fair on Oct. 12 — to encourage students to take an active role in their career journey and begin the next steps to their lives beyond K-State.
As one of the largest career fairs among Big 12 universities, K-State's All-University Career Fair at Bramlage Coliseum attracts more than 300 employers and 4,500 students every year. Due to the overwhelming demand by employers, this year’s career fair is the largest in the university’s history as it expanded from a two-day to a three-day event. K-State has structured employer attendance by recruitment targets so students still have the opportunity to meet all their potential employers within two days. Students are encouraged to drop by between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the following days:
- Tuesday, Sept. 20: Colleges of Agriculture, Arts & Sciences, Business and Human Ecology
- Wednesday, Sept. 21: All majors across all colleges
- Thursday, Sept. 22: Colleges of Engineering and Technology & Aviation
Each day, employers will promote internships, hire for full-time jobs and educate our students about potential career paths in their organizations. I commend all the students who have been preparing for the career fair by attending the Career Center's drop-in advising hours, scheduled appointments, mock interview clinics and workshops throughout the last several weeks.
Response to the newly expanded “Career Closet” has also been strong. In three weeks, there have been almost 200 students who have taken 313 free items so that they are dressed to impress at the career fair!
For cost-effectiveness and the convenience of company representatives traveling to Manhattan from across the country, many employers conduct “Next Day Interviews” immediately following their career fair attendance. Last year, there were 1,549 next day interviews conducted with K-State students. Coupled with more on-campus interview opportunities in October, it’s no surprise that the career fair is an important influence on the 94 percent placement rate of our recent graduates.
The post-graduation success of our students also begins with good decision-making as they find an academic program that fits for them. The Majors, Minors and More Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, in the K-State Union Ballroom is a great opportunity for learning more about K-State academic majors, minors and secondary majors. The fair is especially timely for students before they meet with their academic advisors and start enrollment for the spring 2017 semester.
Taking a career assessment is another way to begin exploring one's interests, abilities and values, which aid in selecting a major. The Career Center offers two free career assessments. FOCUS 2 is an online, interactive education and career planning system that combines self-assessment, major and career exploration, and decision-making into one comprehensive program. The Career Center also offers the Self-Directed Search as another tool that helps tie personal work preferences to corresponding work environments. In either case, a wonderful team of peer career specialists are available to meet with students and start exploring!
Many more resources of the Career Center are available online. So whether you visit the Career Center’s virtual space at k-state.edu/careercenter or physical space in Berney Family Welcome Center, students will find a wide range of services that will help them discover their full potential in the professional world.