On January 18, Valparaiso University (VU) welcomed employers both on and off campus to recruit students for part-time positions. This part-time job fair was a great opportunity for students looking for work that would allow them to engage with potential, local employers. On-campus jobs included positions with the university’s recreation center, Parkhurst Dining, and research opportunities in the Facilities Management’s Office of Sustainability. Off-campus jobs included positions with Cold Stone Creamery, Chick-fil-A, the YMCA, Aflac, and more.
Taking place in the Harre Union, employers engaged with students throughout the most-trafficked times of the learning day. Every employer was ecstatic, friendly, and able to answer any questions students had about employment. Some employers even offered and accepted applications on-site. The most popular spot of the day was the Chick-fil-A booth. Being one of the newest employers in Valpo, Chick-fil-A didn’t disappoint with free cookies, items, and cards for students to receive a free breakfast at their next visit.
Many employers were attracted to the Valparaiso University Part-Time Job Fair by the nature of the students the university breeds. Jennifer Hatseras, director of human resources at the Valparaiso Family YMCA, was drawn to the university because VU’s students have skills to be successful in their programs.
“We know that the university students have some skills and backgrounds that would be applicable to the Y and the different programs that we run. So, we wanted to give students an opportunity to be a part of the Y,” Hatseras said.
A Valparaiso University alumnus herself, Hatseras finds value in having local students with such broad backgrounds and diversity.
Director of the Valparaiso University Career Center Tom Cath was eager to greet employers and chat with students and businesses throughout the day. Cath understands that students are looking to earn money while they attend classes, but have a limited amount of time to do so throughout the semester. Realizing that students need opportunities for part-time employment, Cath and his team at the Career Center organized this job fair as a way for students to engage with local employers and maybe even find a full-time job after they complete their education.
“Sometimes these part-time jobs or internships lead to full-time employment with that same employer because they’ve tried each other out,” Cath said. “That’s not the primary purpose of this fair necessarily, but that is a benefit to career fairs: employers and students meeting each other.”
Cath also holds Valparaiso University students in a high regard and believes they have the skills, work ethic, and dedication to make excellent employees.
“The students are pretty motivated. They tend to be hard-working and earnest, they want to learn and be taught, they’re trainable, good listeners, and I think they can make really solid employees for different organizations, different agencies, different companies, whoever they may be,” Cath said.
It’s safe to say that the employers attending Valparaiso University’s Part-Time Job Fair were able to connect with a great pool of talent looking to work hard and jumpstart their careers.
For more information on the Valparaiso University Career Center, visit www.valpo.edu/career-center.
