News Releases

March 28, 2011
For Immediate Release
For additional information: 
Barbara Kerr, APR
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 360-992-2921
Email: bkerr@clark.edu

 Career Days at Clark College:
The Next Step for Job Search and Career Advice

 
A multi-day event for students and job seekers will be held at the college from April 11-13
   

VANCOUVER, Wash. – With the economy slowly recovering but many people searching for jobs, Clark College will host Career Days 2011 from April 11-13 at the college’s main campus.

The three-day event is designed to assist job seekers with resources for career planning, tools and strategies for an effective job search and techniques to sharpen networking skills.  Participants can attend workshops and meet with trained professionals to prepare for networking opportunities with regional employers.

Clark College President Robert K. Knight said, “As one of the largest community colleges in Washington state, we feel a special responsibility to reach out to students and the community during these tough economic times.  We want to support them with job search skills, career preparation and connections to area industry leaders – knowing that a recovery will gain traction and jobs will start to reappear.”   Knight noted, “We hope that hosting the event at the college will allow large numbers of students to participate – as well as members of our community.”

All events are free to students and members of the community.  No registration is required.   Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Complete information about the event – including times and locations of the various events -- is available at www.clark.edu/cc/careerdays.

Information about the Clark College Career Services is available at www.clark.edu/cc/careerservices.

Career Days 2011 sponsors include Columbia Machine, Inc., Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., TeamLogicIT and U.S. Bank.

Schedule of Events

Monday April 11 – Developing Career Readiness (Workshops to Help Get You Started)

Choosing a Career

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Career Center/Gaiser Hall 108

Take a career assessment that will generate lots of possible "good fit" occupations, and learn about career exploration resources.

Effective Job Search Tools

2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

Learn how to identify and develop the components of a successful job search campaign. Focus on organizing and planning, locating resources and opportunities and understanding the value of networking and marketing yourself.


Interviewing Skills

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

The interview is a critical step in the job search process. Here you will gain tips on how to prepare for an effective interview that will leave employers impressed! Learn how to prepare for an interview, anticipate questions you’ll be asked and how to follow up.

Tuesday April 12 (morning session) -- Marketing Yourself on Paper (Writing a Winning Resume)

 Resume Building

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

Learn how to market your education, skills and experiences effectively. Basic components of a resume, formatting strategies and understanding the importance of tailoring your resume to a particular position will be covered.

Resumes from a Recruiter’s Perspective

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

Learn what employers are looking for in a resume. Hear from a recruiter what makes a resume effective and stand out from the hundreds they receive.

Resume Critiques & Assistance

9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Career Center/ Gaiser Hall 108

Bring a hard copy of your resume and receive a one-on-one, personalized critique from a professional. Also bring an electronic copy and update your resume on the spot. Learn how to effectively market your skills and experience and make your resume stand out from the competition.

Tuesday April 12 (afternoon session) -- Marketing Yourself in Person (Developing Your Networking Skills)

Conversational Skills for Networking

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

Information to help you build alliances and develop relationships; it’s quality versus quantity. Because you never know who you may be talking to, you want to make your conversations count. Learn conversation starters, tips for staying connected and being a great contact for others.

The 60 Second Commercial

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

Write your 60-second commercial, also known as your "Elevator Speech," and practice with the professionals. With this tool you will always be prepared to market yourself in person, in an interview and when networking opportunities present themselves.

Informational Interviewing

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Gaiser Hall 213

Gain confidence and expand your network: learn to get firsthand knowledge with informational interviews.

Wednesday April 13 -- Marketing Yourself to Employers (Career Fair)

Career Fair

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Gaiser Student Center

Connect personally with local employers to obtain career advice and use your networking skills to seek employment opportunities.

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