I want to share a recent experience involving my daughter, who is currently a sophomore at a university. Today, she attended her university's career fair, an event that I have stressed the importance of for many years. I have always emphasized the significance of networking, asking insightful questions, and establishing connections with professionals in the business world. I have fond memories of my own time as a recruiter for a CPA firm at universities, where I engaged in conversations with students of all class levels, including freshmen.
My daughter is pursuing a degree in Analytic Information Management (AIM), and her experience at the career fair was disheartening. Regrettably, she encountered limited engagement from the majority of organizations present. Many did not take the time to introduce themselves or engage in meaningful discussions, and some even returned her resume when they discovered she was a sophomore. She called me feeling discouraged, and I reminded her that rejection is a part of the business world, and persistence is key.
As a Human Resource Professional, I find myself surprised by the quality of experience she had today. It is important to remember that students, like my daughter, may be sophomores this year, but they will quickly progress to juniors and become valuable potential employees in the near future. There is immense value in starting conversations early, nurturing relationships, and recognizing potential talent.
My daughter is determined to return to the career fair tomorrow and explore the opportunities she may have missed today. I have encouraged her not to lose hope. Her major in AIM offers an exciting and promising career path, and I remain hopeful that she will secure an internship. If not, she can use the summer to gain valuable experience and return even stronger next year.
In conclusion, I share this experience not only as a concerned parent but also as a professional who believes in the power of nurturing young talent. As a person who’s actively recruited at college job fairs myself, I’ve directly seen the benefits of engaging with all attendees who come to talk to me. Some of my best recruits were those kids I got to know through multiple visits. Let us all remember the importance of giving every student, regardless of their class year, the chance to showcase their potential and contribute to the business world.
#CareerFair #Networking #FutureTalent #Persistence #ProfessionalDevelopment #hrprofessionals #recruiters #hr