At a time when unemployment is still a concern for many qualified workers, DU’s Office of Alumni Relations will co-host the third annual All Colorado Alumni Career Fair from 2–5 p.m. June 12 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center.
The event is exclusively for alumni of DU and 12 other area colleges and universities who have at least a four-year degree and three years of work experience. By banding together, the schools are able to attract greater participation from employers, says Cindy Hyman, DU’s associate director of alumni career programs.
“If we had just done a career fair for DU alumni, we wouldn’t have the same number of potential job seekers or employer participation, but if we band together with all schools, employers are excited about doing it, and it makes it a really good event for everyone,” Hyman says.
Unlike community career fairs geared toward unemployed blue- and white-collar workers alike, this fair will host employers who are specifically looking to hire candidates with college degrees and several years of work experience. Employers at this year’s fair include American Family Insurance, Colorado Community Health Network and Republic National Distributing Company.
“We think we get a better category of employers,” Hyman says.
In 2010, DU started receiving more phone calls from unemployed alumni seeking career resources. Alumni Relations realized this was happening at other schools as well, so DU and the University of Colorado joined forces with 12 other schools to start the All Colorado Alumni Career Fair. Last year, the fair attracted 105 employers and 1,200 alumni, including 250 from DU.
“This is a fairly unique event around the country, and I like the idea that we can cooperate with each other,” Hyman says. “We all realize that employers are looking for the best candidate for the job, and we feel our DU alumni are very well-qualified and can compete with any alum in the state or the country.”
The All Colorado Career Fair also will include career-related seminars presented by career consultants, including a pre-fair workshop with tips on how to navigate a career fair.
Some of those tips? Hyman says it’s important to bring plenty of resumes and business cards, to find out which companies will attend, to pinpoint the few you want to talk to and to research those companies in advance.
“This allows you to ask more insightful questions and make a better impression,” she says.
The event is free, but registration is required and will be open through the morning of June 12 at www.alumni.du.edu/AlumniCareerFair2012.