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Hospitality Business Career Expo features workshops, seminars open to all majors

November 2, 2000

Last year, hospitality business graduate student Jona Houghtaling needed a summer internship.

But instead of scouring the classifieds for a minimum wage job, she attended the School of Hospitality Business Career Expo where she landed eight interviews with companies she was interested in, and was able to pick the one she liked best.

“It absolutely helped me,” Houghtaling said. “It was an awesome way to connect with recruiters, because they’re all in one room. There’s just this wealth of jobs at your fingertips.”

This year, expo will be Tuesday at the Kellogg Center. Workshops will be held from noon to 4 p.m. and an open house will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The expo is in its 22nd year. More than 80 companies, including restaurants, hotels, casinos and consulting firms, will be looking for job candidates this year.

Marcio Hamerschlak, a hospitality business senior, is the executive director of the event.

Hamerschlak said the fair is organized by students, but said it is still the premier hospitality career fair in the nation.

“We started working on this in January,” he said. “We’re trying to emphasize this year that it’s open to all majors, not just hospitality business.”

Last year, nearly 600 people attended. Freshman and sophomores may sign up to attend workshops to learn how to work with recruiters from companies, and how to prepare for a career fair.

For juniors and seniors, there is a workshop that teaches them to evaluate job offers and benefits so they can choose their ideal job.

Other workshops include a session about how to plan a meeting and dine professionally.

There will also be a seminar with David DuBois, the president of the Professional Convention Management Association.

Lenroy Jones, the assistant director of MSU Career Services & Placement, spends most of his time coordinating career fairs for MSU students. There are nearly 20 career fairs on campus every year.

Jones said such fairs are an excellent way to find a job or to meet contacts within companies.

“Most recruiters are coming with the idea of getting a person hired,” Jones said. “The days of the long, drawn-out interview process are over. It gives you great exposure and networking opportunities.”

While many career fairs cater to those who will graduate in the next two years, Jones said they are also beneficial for younger students.

“It’s even better for freshmen and sophomores because they can learn a lot,” Jones said. “If you don’t know what you want to do, a career fair is a great way to find out.”

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