Approximately 500 students from Elon and other colleges and universities joined representatives from companies, graduate and professional programs for the Elon Career and Graduate Fair, held Thursday, March 3 in the Koury Center.
More than 60 employers, including Healthsouth, LabCorp and the U.S. State Department were on hand to share information about full-time and part-time positions, as well as internships. Graduate and professional schools represented included the Duke University School of Law, East Carolina University’s College of Business Graduate Programs and the Western Carolina University Graduate School.
Greg Smith, a sales manager, and Holly Perryman, marketing and recruiting coordinator, represented Jefferson Pilot Financial of Greensboro at the fair. Smith said his company looks for people who are outgoing and self-motivated. The career fair and other events like it are helpful to Jefferson Pilot as it markets its new internship program.
“Our new program is more structured and is designed to teach a person what it means to be a financial advisor,” Smith said.
According to Smith, career fairs have become an integral part of the company’s recruiting effort. “We have rededicated ourselves to events like these,” Smith said. “We’re very focused on this because we realize the talent that is available out there.”
Jim Allison, associate director of the Elon career center, said the fair raises Elon’s profile in a number of ways.
“Not only do we have alums representing their organizations, but (the fair) helps our school name and visibility,” Allison said. “I’m very pleased with the turnout from students and employers.”