South Dakota Ag Connection - Over 70 to Recruit BHSU Students During Job, Teacher Fairs

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Over 70 to Recruit BHSU Students During Job, Teacher Fairs
South Dakota Ag Connection - 02/19/2020

Black Hills State University will host the annual Jacket Job Career and Teacher Fairs Feb. , in the Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center. The event is for students and alumni. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed to impress.

BHSU has hosted its internship/career fair and teacher fair for more than 10 years, but 2020 is the first year both fairs will coincide making it easier for students to network and find opportunities, according to BHSU Director of Corporate and Career Development Hans Nelson.

The day will kick off in the Young Center Field House at 8:30 a.m. with a Q&A forum with school administrators. "Principals and superintendents will be present to give students advice about what they look for in new teachers," Nelson says.

After the Q&A, the Teacher Fair will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Field House. The Career Fair will also begin at 9:30 a.m. in the gymnasium/basketball court. The events end at 12:30 p.m.

Currently completing her first year of teaching at Creekside Elementary, BHSU alum Remi Wientjes attended the Teacher Fair last spring before graduating in May 2019. "The teacher fair is an amazing place to put yourself out there as a qualified candidate for a teaching position," Wientjes says.

"Going to this fair not only helped me get my first teaching job, it allowed me to make connections throughout various school districts."

The fairs are targeted toward juniors and seniors who are looking for internships or full-time jobs after graduation but anyone can attend according to Nelson. He adds,

"As a freshman, to learn the skills of going up to someone, shaking their hand and introducing yourself, practicing those networking skills is really important. If you can build those as a freshman, you are setting yourself up for success as a senior."

Students are also able to explore their career options. The fair provides students opportunities to learn more about potential jobs aligning with their degree and talk with employers hiring summer interns.

BHSU is collaborating with the Department of Labor to assist students in improving/prepping their resumes. Students can attend one of the open Resume Building Sessions on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Students can reserve their 30-minute slot with Nelson at Hans.Nelson@BHSU.edu. The next session is Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. -- noon in the Joy (Proctor) Krautschun Alumni/Foundation Welcome Center.

Local and bordering state companies register for the BHSU Career Fair, and schools come from all over the nation for the Teacher Fair. More than 20 employers and over 50 schools have registered to attend. To view a full list of current employers and schools visit www.BHSU.edu/Careers.

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