This semester’s Career Fair had over 100 tables, each filled with students, employers, businesses, graduate schools, local companies, internship opportunities, and full-time positions. For the first time, ABAC has had these events back-to-back.
Students asked about what each table offered and what each company did in general. Each table presented future opportunities for students as well as potentially unexplored careers they have available.
Tables on the first day of the career fair provided information on education and graduate programs, including from Kennesaw State University, Auburn University, Valdosta State University, and Unity University.
The second day of the Career Fair focused on students’ lives after earning their degrees, hosting companies such as Camp Twin Lakes, Chatham Landscapes Services Company, and Lipman Family Farms. Local companies came out as well, including Turner Home and Finances and Heatcraft. There were also some federal organizations like the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Georgia Federal-State Protection Services.
The Career Center at ABAC works to help prepare students for the workplace. Prior to the Career Fair, two workshops such as an interview and resume and skills workshops.
Rachel Frantz, the career center coordinator, assists students as they pursue their own interests in their chosen field of study.
Frantz said, “In developing a career center, we wanted to ensure all opportunities to all students. That’s why we wanted to have more wide-scale events that were open to all students.”
Tyler Justiss, a business major at ABAC, is a non-traditional student who has to strive to get these types of opportunities.
Justiss said, “Being a single mom of two kids, I don’t get the opportunity to hunt for jobs. When the Career Fair comes, there’s my opportunity.”
The Career Fair was held on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for arts and sciences and business majors in Edwards Hall.
On Thursday, Nov. 6, ag majors gathered in the Ag Tech building for a career fair there. Both career fairs started at 11 a.m. and went on to 2 p.m. Although the event was targeted toward these majors, all students were welcomed to both career fairs.
Lili Harbuck, a rural community development major, said, “I got so many opportunities and so many people who were willing to be a support system.” Harbuck went to the Career Fair on the first day to learn about what opportunities were being offered.
Jennifer Herring, office manager of Lake Park Sod, had her first experience at the Career Fair on Thursday.
She said, “Today, everyone has been very present, and I have been impressed with the resumes and questions asked.”
As ABAC prepares students for the workforce, they encourage students to take advantage of these types of opportunities. Another program that has been created is the Career Closet, which has suits and ties for students to wear, as well as professional headshots that have been taken of some of the clubs on campus.
For more information about opportunities after college, email Rachel Frantz (rachel.frantz@abac.edu) or visit the Career Center on the 3rd floor of the Carlton Center.