ASU hosts job fair as students, employers look for matches

Priyanka Kadiyala said Wednesday she is working to get a master’s degree in business administration in information systems at Arkansas State University – a move she hopes puts her in a position to own her own restaurant someday.

The budding restauranteur was one of about 100 people who were at a job fair Wednesday (Feb. 24) hosted by Arkansas State University. The job fair at Centennial Hall was for students studying at the university’s business, media and community colleges, with about two dozen area businesses at the event.

For Kadiyala, the fair gave her an opportunity to learn about specific businesses and build for the future.

“Most students, they don’t know the company names,” Kadiyala said. “It will help with their education and studies. They also get contacts and it is a good place to learn about companies.”

According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was a 16% unemployment rate in Jan. 2016 for people ages 16 to 19, down barely from 16.1% in Dec. 2015. By contrast, the report, called the Unemployment Situation, showed that there was a 2.8% unemployment rate for people with a bachelor’s degree or higher, while overall there was a 62.9% worker participation rate.

THE NEED IS THERE
Arkansas State University Director of Career Services Tiffany Johnson said the university works with area businesses to provide internships for sophomores and juniors. Those internships give students a chance to network and get to learn real-life experiences.

The need is definitely there, Johnson said. “I tell the students to follow up and stay in contact (with the internship).”

Some companies at the job fair were in need of graphic designers and finance majors, as well as people who are business savvy and understand accounting. The career services office also helps students with putting together resumes and learning interview tips, Johnson said.

Robert Bahn, a lead business consultant for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, was also at the job fair. His office, which helps start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, was looking for two interns to work at the Jonesboro office.

Bahn said several students asked him questions about the center and its work. However, Bahn told Kadiyala that real-life experience can make a huge difference in your career.

“The real world is the real world,” Bahn said.

Kadiyala, who majored in human resources and marketing, said she was looking for a full-time job and wants to start her own business by opening a restaurant in the future.

ON THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE
Bobby Long, human resources director at Cavenaugh Auto Group, said his booth was also busy Wednesday. The car dealership in Jonesboro, Walnut Ridge, Black Rock and Hot Springs is also involved in more than just selling automobiles, Long said.

The company has its own insurance company, finance company and has its studio, Fault Line Studios, that puts together its commercials and advertisements.

“We see a lot of business management and finance people,” Long said.

Social media has also changed the business, Long said, noting they recently hired someone to put together a strategy for Facebook and Twitter.

“We are looking for graphic designer, insurance agents, collectors as well as underwriters,” Long said, adding people skilled in information technology are in need.

There was a stack of resumes on the table where Long was sitting Wednesday.

“There is a bunch here. I have someone with media broadcasting, an MBA, someone with organizational behavior and marketing/advertising,” Long said.

The job fair Wednesday was the first of three events to be held for students this year. A job fair for students in the health and education fields will be March 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while a campus wide job fair will be March 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Centennial Hall.