The University hosted its annual Fall Career Day, providing students with the opportunity to network with 118 employers from a variety of industries, on Nov. 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of the OceanFirst Bank Center.
Open to all students and alumni, the event exposed students to job opportunities and helped to polish their interview skills. Claude Taylor, Advisor-in-Residence for Academic Transition and Inclusion, explained that the event benefits students in two ways. “First, students get to see who is looking to hire people along with the range of jobs that are available. The other way is it allows students to practice the essential skills they need to be a successful candidate, in a safe space,” he said.
Jefferey Mass, Assistant Director of Career Services, said, “I’m a huge fan of face-to face interaction. The Career Day is a great way for students to get out of their comfort zone a little bit. A lot of [students] even prefer it, over virtual interviews. It’s a great way to hone in on their elevator pitch, network, an obtain a business card to follow-up. It’s the ultimate way to practice interview skills.”
Taylor continued, “[Career Day] is a signature event at Monmouth and we have a great relationship with employers in the state and throughout the region that allows us to host employees that represent a wide range of sectors.”
Each year, Career Day has expanded its list of employers. However, Mass explained that the event is about ‘quality not quantity’; the event’s is about ensuring that the employers that do come have jobs and internships for students, rather than having a large turn-out.
Jessica McGovern, a music industry graduate, agreed with Taylor, and said, “This event is beneficial because it provides so many different options. There are companies here from every single field, even if it’s not the field you studied, you still have the opportunity to branch out.”
As a recent graduate, McGovern explained, “Monmouth gives [her] the option to participate in [Career Day] forever which is a great asset, especially as an alumnus that doesn’t have a fulltime job yet.”
Mass added that 25 alumni had signed in that were either in transition or seeking new job opportunities.
Taylor confirmed that a benefit of attending Monmouth is that Career Services extend to alumni. “Once you’re a student at Monmouth, you’re eligible to participate in events like this throughout your lifetime. We have alumnus today who graduated in the 1970s that have come back to take part in Career Fairs,” he said.
Shiao Ma, a junior education student, added that Career Day has helped her learn about her job prospects and how to apply for them in the U.S. “It helps me learn the process of finding a job because I don’t know how to find one in the U.S,” she said.
PHOTO TAKEN by Megan Ruggles
