By Kallie Parker, Crystal Sturgeon and Megan Moore
IV Leader Staff, March 19, 2009
It’s the students time to shine at the 18th annual
Illinois Valley Community College Job Fair. It will take place in the college’s
gym from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, and is open to the public.
“Employers are looking to the future of the Illinois Valley
[students]” to keep their businesses going in the coming generations, Sharon
Barthelemy, coordinator of IVCC career services, said.
Despite the turbulent economy, the number of employers
attending over the past five years has increased from 65 in 2004 to 90 in 2008.
While last year saw student participation at 650 students, when the employers
filled out the evaluation, the most frequent response was that they would like
to see even more students come to the job fair, Barthelemy said.
She also said that it is a “community event” including all
students. Students who do not know what career they are interested in should
attend the job fair because it will prepare them and teach them what they should
know. Attending the job fair is a way to meet contacts for potential internship
opportunities.
Students will also learn about networking, to help them
communicate with a diverse group of contacts for their future employment.
Barthelemy said contacts continue to be made with employers
and more employers may be added.
There are many tips for students when going to the job fair.
“The best tip is to go to the Web site,” stated Barthelemy.
Also, students need to be conservative and dress in interview attire.
According to the Web Site, this includes the following: dress
shirt, dress pants and no jeans.
Job seekers should come to the job fair with 10 to 20 copies
of their resume. The resume should be in good form and on quality paper. To find
out what is meant by good form, students can go to the Career Services Center in
the E lounge.
An excellent benefit for students will be that the Kiwani’s
Club will be there to help them polish up their appearances, resumes and
interview skills, said Barthelemy. They will have clothing available for those
who do not own suitable apparel. Volunteers from the local Kiwani’s Club will be
available in the upper gym just prior to and throughout the event.
“We do this as a benefit for our community…we are also the
only community-wide job fair in the area,” said Barthelemy.
Again, as Barthelemy said, “the best tip is to go to our Web
site.”
The Web site for the job fair is http://www.ivcc.edu/cs.
Anyone with further questions about the job Fair or volunteering to help can
contact either Sharon Barthelemy at 815-224-0214 or Lisa Witalka at
815-224-0502.