Students debating whether to go to the College of Human Services and Health Professions’ career fair today should think of how much time even an hour-and-a-half will save them down the road.

Michael T. Cahill, director of career services at Syracuse University, said students should think about the connections they can make at the career fair, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Slocum Hall rotunda, which will feature more than 45 mostly regional but some national organizations.

The organizations are a mix of human service and health services organizations that generally employ students who studied nursing, child and family development and other majors within Human Services, said Felicia Otero Haskins, assistant director of career and professional development.

“Some students are looking for jobs after graduation. Others are looking for an internship, and others are encouraged to go for networking skills,” Haskins said. “It is a chance to speak to a number of organizations about the social problems they address, the population they serve or the career opportunities their organization gives students.”

The fair will also give students the opportunity to drop off their resumes to any organizations they are interested in, Haskins said.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is one of the fair participants. Barbra Link, programming coordinator for the upstate New York regional society, said the fair allows her organization to interact with students and gives students a chance to learn more about the organization.

“The fair is good for networking because it lets us put a face to a name later on if we are considering the student for a job,” Link said.

Cahill said networking is one of the biggest benefits of going to a career fair. The fair allows students to share what they are interested in with those who are in the field and make good first impressions.

“They aren’t looking to hire you on the spot, but they are looking to see if you are someone they want to learn more about,” Cahill said.

To help students stay in touch with people they meet at the fair, directories will be handed to them as they walk in, Haskins said. The directories have the company names along with the names of the company representatives and a place for students to make notes about the conversations they have, Haskins said.

Sharon L. Roberts, an adoption and foster care specialist with the Dunbar Association, said she likes to encourage the students she meets and that her association has hired students she encountered at the fair.

“It’s not quite midterms, but it’s close, and I love to help them keep the faith and talk about goals and their visions for the future,” said Roberts, who received her bachelors degree from the School of Social Work in 1996 followed by her masters degree in 1998.

Haskins said she hopes there will be a large turnout at the fair, especially younger undergraduate students.

“To have a high number of students in attendance is a goal, but to get students who are coming earlier, would be great,” Haskins said. “The networking approach takes time and must start way ahead of schedule.”

Published on February 25, 2003 at 12:00 pm