West Coast University students and graduates kicked off the year by bringing their “A-game” to the Virtual Career Fair on Feb. 5, hosted by the Online Career Services (CS) team.
The event’s theme was the Super Bowl, which was held the same week. In the weeks leading up, the CS specialists assisted with resumes, promoted the employers by highlighting their companies to students, and got creative with activities and emails that tied with the football theme.
The students that attended were prepared with updated resumes and their “elevator pitch,” a way to introduce themselves to recruiters in the chatrooms. Each employer had a chatroom where job seekers can enter to learn more about the open positions, application steps, and to simply network. For some, it acts as a pre-screening to the interview. One participant, an RN-BSN student set to graduate this summer, was asked to come in for an interview by two different employers.
Eighteen employers attended ranging from hospital systems to county partners, covering the multiple states where WCU Online programs are offered. Employers like the California Department of Public Health, Molina Healthcare, County of Orange, California Department of State Hospitals, Covenant Care, Encompass Health, and Methodist Health — to name a few — all logged on from 10 am to noon PST to connect with the students and graduates. This format not only worked for the employers, who are actively recruiting for multiple positions and degrees, but for the online and campus students who can log on from home or at work.
Linny, a recruiter for the County of Orange, who is no stranger to career fairs but a first-timer to the virtual format, said afterward that he “would love to participate again.”
“I found this to be very successful and loved how I was able to do it in my office. It was also great because I specifically support the health care agency and obviously all the students or graduates were looking for a position in a healthcare-related field,” he said.
With the support of other departments, these events provide a space for WCU students and alumni from all over to engage with peers and employers. CS Online hosts several virtual events and workshops with the next one on March 18.
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
