By John Kendall
IV Leader Staff, Feb. 21, 2008
For the 17th consecutive year, Illinois Valley Community College will host a job fair. The fair will be from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 10 in the IVCC gymnasium.
“This is a great opportunity to go and familiarize yourself with the community and the major players,” said Sharon Barthelemy, director of Career Services and coordinator of the Job Fair.
Barthelemy encouraged students with or without a job to come. “You have the potential to have 10 job interviews on this day,” she said, stressing that attendees should dress in interview clothes and have at least 10 to 12 resumes on hand. “For those who are looking only for internships, there will be a small tent on the companies display table that will be offering them,” she added.
However, April 10 will not be the only day that you could meet with some employers that will be at the fair. From noon to 2 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge on March 12, there will be an Employer Panel, in which a panel of students asking questions to six employees from different fields.
“Later on in the session, members of the audience will be able to ask their own questions to the panel,” Barthelemy said. She noted the panel is a great place for prospective employees to find out exactly what employers are looking for when they go to hire.
Also on March 13, there will be an Etiquette Dinner at the Uptown Bar and Grill in La Salle. However, to attend this event, students will need to respond by Feb. 29 with $15. “We had fantastic feedback from last year’s event. Lee Ann Piano will be the presenter for this year’s event,” stated Barthelemy.
The Etiquette Dinner teaches students proper table manners and communication skills for interview situations that take place away from the office setting.
Barthelemy also stated that there is a resume/interview skills workshop in room C105A on the last Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.
“All employers are always looking for good employees, and they would like more students to come to the job fair to make connections.“
Eighty percent of all jobs are from people that you have connections too,” Barthelemy continued. “Someone can expect in their lifetime today to be in five different careers. “Students who would like to learn more about the job fair and the employers who will be represented can visit the Career Services Web site at
www.ivcc.edu/cs.
Barthelemy also encouraged students to use the Career Cruising option on the Web site to find out which jobs might meet their interests.
For information about the job fair, check out the IVCC career services Web site or contact Barthelemy by phone at 815-224-0214 or 815-224-0502.