By Sophia Gage and Maya Speece, CIU Student Writers
It was perfect weather to look for a job. Columbia International University’s bi-annual Job Fair was held in the warm sun in front of the cafeteria, making it convenient for students to grab lunch, and then inquire about future careers or a summer internship. Dozens of tables were set up manned by personnel representing a wide variety of businesses, ministries, nonprofits and public service.
For example, Charters Schools are looking for students interested in teaching. Comfort Keepers, offering in-home care for patients, is looking for nursing students, and the Cason Group that serves insurance professionals was also on hand.
Ministries at the Job Fair included the mission organization Crossover Global and the Crisis Response program of Reach Global, a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. A representative of Reach Global said that a unique trait of their goal is to help job candidates find a position that will uniquely suit them. Within the organization there is an array of vital parts to play, from office administrator to construction work.
Among those touting volunteer positions, internships, and summer camps was Camp Burnt Gin, providing a camp experience for children with disabilities, where a representative said Camp Burnt Gin is “an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, especially if you want to go into healthcare or education.”
Lexington Baptist Church is offering long- and short-term residency programs to train future church leaders. Associate Worship Pastor Tim Bottoms said that “We see a growing gap in leadership, so we want to pour into that.”
CIU’s Business and Career Development Center (BCDC) organized the event, to encourage students to start the job search now and not after they graduate.
BCDC spokesman Charles Chen said the Job Fair gets bigger each year, with over 40 organizations participating.
“We try to organize them by major, so that we have employers for education, nursing, business, and more,” Chen said, noting that student-employer engagement is vital and effective in helping graduates find a career.
(CIU Senior Writer Bob Holmes contributed to this article.)
(Above: Kena Dill from First Community Bank chats with CIU students at the Job Fair)
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