The Fall 2019 Career Expo at Southeast Missouri State University will offer students the opportunity to meet with 135 employers on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Student Recreation Center.The event, scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., will provide a venue for students to explore a variety of professions and meet with employers.Employers representing local, regional, national and international industries will be attending the event, including Cushman & Wakefield, Forensic IT, World Wide Technology, Spire Energy, Enterprise Holdings, FS Growmark, Forest Park Forever, Stifel Financial, Lodging Hospitality Management, BJC Healthcare, Hensel Phelps, AgReliant Genetics, UniGroup, and Special School District of St. Louis County.The Career Expo is a great opportunity for students to network and learn about career opportunities with employers who want to visit and recruit Southeast students, said Dan Presson, director of Southeasts Career Services.Employers know that Southeast graduates are very hard working, dedicated workers -- that is one of the hallmarks of our University and students, he said. Many of our students work while attending school, and have built a strong work ethic and dedication that is fostered in their classes and time at Southeast. From the first day they start their new jobs, they are ready, prepared and excited to join the workforce.
One reason employers continue to seek Southeast graduates is because of their preparedness for the roles they take on, added Presson. Employers continue to recruit Southeast students because they know the type of high-quality graduates the University prepares for the workplace, he said.Big River Communications of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, hires Southeast students and graduates because they are well qualified, competent in their field of study, ready to learn, and apply that learning in their day to day tasks, said Chris Foeste, general manager at Big River Communications.Southeasts technology-focused majors bring great talent to this area -- talent that wouldnt be here without those programs, and as a company we benefit from that talent coming to southeast Missouri, he said. When hiring Southeast alumni and students we find a candidate ready for the interview, a polished resume, the communication soft skills necessary to navigate the interview process, and experience with group experiential learning projects that make them more effective as a team member in our organization. They are focused on their field of education and are able to contribute that which theyve learned in the classroom to the daily operations of our company.Southeast graduates bring a high value of expertise to the workplace, said Erick Harlow, manager at Forensic IT, Inc. in Glen Carbon, Illinois.The people that come out of Southeast are very down to earth and understand what doing the right thing means, Harlow said. Not just the education, but the area seems to produce candidates that are level-headed and know what it takes to get the job done.Katie Flaschar, campus recruiter with Cushman & Wakefield in St. Louis, Missouri, agrees, adding, Its evident when meeting candidates on campus that theyve been prepared to speak with us. They ask thoughtful questions and are engaged when learning about the opportunities we have available.We are often less focused on a specific degree and more on whether a candidate will be a culture fit at our company.Southeast, time and time again, has provided us with students and now colleagues who have the work ethic, soft skills and ability to learn quickly what were looking for.
Additionally, Southeast graduates not only land the job, but also are fully equipped and prepared to be successful within their new career while serving the needs of their employer.Southeast alumni and students are successful in our company because they have the skills and the experience to tackle any project that comes before them, Foeste said. We dont expect them to know the industry top to bottom on day one. Thats unrealistic, but they do have the ability to learn, to discover, to research and find the answer on their own, or work within a team to solve the issue.That will to do, that will to learn and succeed is why we hire Southeast alumni and undergraduates.Students interested in attending the Career Expo are expected to be prepared to interact with future employers, including business attire and resumes. Students who need business attire should check the Career Closet, located in the Redhawk Food Pantry in Kent Library Room 123. This is a free resource for students who find purchasing business attire costly. Additionally, Career Services will be on hand to offer attire advice for students.The Office of Career Services also offers a variety of services designed to equip students for success, including help with cover letters and resumes, and mock interviews to improve professional skills.For more preparation tips, please contact Career Services, located in Academic Hall Room 057, by calling (573) 651-2583, emailingcareerservices@semo.edu, or visitinghttp://www.semo.edu/careers/.
One reason employers continue to seek Southeast graduates is because of their preparedness for the roles they take on, added Presson. Employers continue to recruit Southeast students because they know the type of high-quality graduates the University prepares for the workplace, he said.Big River Communications of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, hires Southeast students and graduates because they are well qualified, competent in their field of study, ready to learn, and apply that learning in their day to day tasks, said Chris Foeste, general manager at Big River Communications.Southeasts technology-focused majors bring great talent to this area -- talent that wouldnt be here without those programs, and as a company we benefit from that talent coming to southeast Missouri, he said. When hiring Southeast alumni and students we find a candidate ready for the interview, a polished resume, the communication soft skills necessary to navigate the interview process, and experience with group experiential learning projects that make them more effective as a team member in our organization. They are focused on their field of education and are able to contribute that which theyve learned in the classroom to the daily operations of our company.Southeast graduates bring a high value of expertise to the workplace, said Erick Harlow, manager at Forensic IT, Inc. in Glen Carbon, Illinois.The people that come out of Southeast are very down to earth and understand what doing the right thing means, Harlow said. Not just the education, but the area seems to produce candidates that are level-headed and know what it takes to get the job done.Katie Flaschar, campus recruiter with Cushman & Wakefield in St. Louis, Missouri, agrees, adding, Its evident when meeting candidates on campus that theyve been prepared to speak with us. They ask thoughtful questions and are engaged when learning about the opportunities we have available.We are often less focused on a specific degree and more on whether a candidate will be a culture fit at our company.Southeast, time and time again, has provided us with students and now colleagues who have the work ethic, soft skills and ability to learn quickly what were looking for.
Additionally, Southeast graduates not only land the job, but also are fully equipped and prepared to be successful within their new career while serving the needs of their employer.Southeast alumni and students are successful in our company because they have the skills and the experience to tackle any project that comes before them, Foeste said. We dont expect them to know the industry top to bottom on day one. Thats unrealistic, but they do have the ability to learn, to discover, to research and find the answer on their own, or work within a team to solve the issue.That will to do, that will to learn and succeed is why we hire Southeast alumni and undergraduates.Students interested in attending the Career Expo are expected to be prepared to interact with future employers, including business attire and resumes. Students who need business attire should check the Career Closet, located in the Redhawk Food Pantry in Kent Library Room 123. This is a free resource for students who find purchasing business attire costly. Additionally, Career Services will be on hand to offer attire advice for students.The Office of Career Services also offers a variety of services designed to equip students for success, including help with cover letters and resumes, and mock interviews to improve professional skills.For more preparation tips, please contact Career Services, located in Academic Hall Room 057, by calling (573) 651-2583, emailingcareerservices@semo.edu, or visitinghttp://www.semo.edu/careers/.