Southwest Virginia Community College’s annual Job Search Clinics offered students and alumni a series of eight powerful workshops to help polish their job seeking skills. Sponsored by the Educational Opportunity Center/Career Resource Center, the workshops were a huge success with over 375 participants. “Job Search Clinics are designed to assist students in transitioning from college into the workforce. The workshops prepare students to make a good impression and connect with employers successfully,” said Sharon Peery, Career Services Counselor.
The Job Search Clinics conducted by SwVCC faculty and staff included Team Building Leads to Success, Researching Company Profiles, Looking Good on Paper, Business Communication Skills, Networking, Workplace Ethics, Interviewing Tips, and Polishing Your Professional Image.
According to Peery, the presentations were developed from surveys and comments from local and national employers about what students need to do to get the jobs they desire. “Employers are telling us that college students need to learn how to present themselves, how to prepare resumes customized for the jobs they want and to be able to discuss how their training and skills match the job they seek.”
Individualized career services are available to SwVCC students and alumni including resume critiques to help prepare students for the job search. The Career Resource Center also customizes training for different programs on campus.
In addition to preparing students for the job search, SwVCC sponsors and co-sponsors several job fairs in the region to help students connect with potential employers. “The employers who attend our career fairs are looking for candidates with the credentials that our students have worked hard to achieve,” said Peery.
SwVCC is one of six regional colleges co-sponsoring the Bluefield State Job Fair on Wednesday, March 28 from 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM at the Bluefield State College Gym.
SwVCC will hold its annual Career Connection and Healthcare Fair on Wednesday, April 4 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the SwVCC’s King Center gymnasium.
The Interstate Career Fair will be held on Thursday, April 12 from noon to 5:00 PM at the Holiday Inn in Bristol, VA. The fair, sponsored by 19 community colleges, colleges, and universities in Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and Southern West Virginia, attracts over 100 companies and over 1000 students each year.
For more information about the Job Search Clinics and Spring Career Fairs, contact Sharon Peery in the Educational Opportunity Center/Career Resource Center in Tazewell Hall, room 125 or call 276.964.7544.