By: Elizabeth DiEmanuele
Originally published in the McMaster Daily News
Bringing in top organizations from the Greater Hamilton Area, the Connect to Careers Job Fair will connect students and alumni to 140+ organizations, totalling more than 300 opportunities to get hired. Most notable this year is the fact that 90 per cent of the organizations attending will be hiring for full-time positions and almost half are recruiting for summer job opportunities.
As Gisela Oliveira, associate director of careers and employment at the Student Success Centre shares, “Connect to Careers Job Fair is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students and alumni, and it only happens once a year. I strongly encourage students, at any point in their studies, to attend so that they can learn about different industries, what skills employers are looking for and to put a face on their application. Finding a job is about connecting with hiring managers and recruiters and at Connect to Careers Job Fair you can increase your network.”
To help students prepare, the Student Success Centre will be hosting a number of career sessions on campus during the final weeks of January as well as two Resume Blitz days. At the Resume Blitz, students and alumni can bring in their resumes for feedback from on-campus career experts.
These drop-in sessions will take place on January 30 and February 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in L.R. Wilson Lobby. No registration is required.
For the Student Success Centre, one of the most important takeaways for students and alumni is to keep an open mind about organizations and industries. “There are opportunities for everyone at this job fair,” says Gisela. “It’s important for students and alumni to broaden their search and diversify the types of industries they consider related to their studies. Organizations have many different roles that require a diverse range of skills and experiences.”
The Connect to Careers Job Fair will take place on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at FirstOntario Centre. Those attending the VIP hour can enter the fair at 10:00 a.m. There will also be a free shuttle bus available from McMaster University, operating on the half hour from Ivor Wynne Centre (IWC), starting at 9:30 a.m. The Student Success Centre will have a career staff available on the shuttle bus ride to answer questions and offer direction at the fair.
Connect to Careers is Hamilton’s largest job fair, presented in partnership by McMaster University, Mohawk College, Redeemer University College, Workforce Planning Hamilton and the City of Hamilton. Proud sponsors of the 2019 Connect to Careers Job Fair include: Pratt and Whitney Canada (gold sponsor); Columbia International College (silver sponsor); Eco Waste Solutions (silver sponsor); JNE Group Of Companies (silver sponsor); Keyence Canada Inc. (silver sponsor); and Tigercat Industries Inc. (silver sponsor).
For a full list of organizations attending, visit the Connect to Careers Job Fair website.