Photo by Martin Papa
“If I didn’t care about people’s futures, I wouldn’t be here.”
Sgt. Chris Casey represented the Army at Moraine Valley’s seventh annual JRC Spring Job and Internship on March 24. The Army was one of a wide variety of employers participating at the fair representing a wide variety of industries. Cardinal Fitness, Chipotle, M&M Mars and Vector Marketing were some other notable participants.
“It creates an opportunity,” said Tamima Farooqui, job resource specialist. “It gives the employers an opportunities to do one stop hiring, and it give potential employers an opportunity to connect with employers and to network. It helps to make a human connection.”
The room was filled with the chatter of well-dressed participants, armed with resumes, taking advantage of this ability to connect with the employers.
The Job and Internship Fair is available to more than just students of Moraine Valley, but to alumni and members of the community as well. According to Farooqui, a majority of those participating are actually alumni. This is an area where she would like to improve upon, saying, “We’d like to get more current students in as well.”
Being the seventh spring Job and Internship Fair, the Job Resource Center is always looking to improve the experience. The main way they currently are doing so is by talking to the employers before they come in to talk to students. In this way they can make sure the employers are going to participate in the way that is most productive for students and so that the students can get the most out of their experience.
From talking to employers, the Job Resource Center requires a business attire dress code and requires the students to bring resumes. On the employers end, the Job Resource Center makes sure that those with booths are actually actively looking to hire people and are looking to accept resumes. In the past years, a few employers would tell students to go online if they wanted to get a job.
Justin Cabel is a student at Moraine Valley, and attended the fair. “It was good to see a variety of jobs in one place. It was convenient,” said Cabel. For students looking for jobs like he was, the fair was somewhat lacking. “Most employers are looking for full-time jobs, and the ones looking for part-time are looking for someone long-term.“
The next opportunity to attend the Job and Internship Fair will be during the fall semester on September 29.
