From Campus to Career: Education Fair Brings Opportunity to Students

The College of Education and Behavioral Sciences has many opportunities for students to get their first job out of university. The Center for Career Readiness is hosting a career fair for students going into the teacher workforce. The event will be held at 2 p.m. on November 13 in the University Center ballrooms. Interested students must register before attending.

The goal of the event is to connect students and alumni with school districts and educational organizations interested in hiring UNC students. It is an opportunity for students to get practice in networking and interviewing. There is a mix of private, public and charter schools both in Colorado and outside of Colorado. There are also educational organizations other than teaching, like counseling and other educational-related fields.

Tanner Robinson, the work-based learning and fairs coordinator, is hoping to spread the word about the fair to all students.

“All students are welcome at the fair; we strive to make it an open environment,” Robinson said. “When I was in college, career fairs were so intimidating to me. But now that I have experience on this side of the table, I can’t express enough how excited these employers are to meet with our students.”

Robinson shared that the Center for Career Readiness will help prepare students for the fair. Students can make appointments to go over resumes, practice interviews and much more. The Center also offers many workshops over the semester to help prepare students for their careers.

Many students find jobs or internships at the fair, and those who don’t, make lifelong networking connections that help them later in their careers. The fair allows students to learn about the different school districts. Even if students aren’t looking for a job, the fair is a way to build their career skills and gain more personal experience.

“Our motto at the Center is, ‘It’s never too early to start talking about career,’” Robinson said.

Registration is still ongoing, but there are both new and returning employers. Normal attendants include Greeley-Evans School District, Boulder Valley School District, Denver Public Schools and UNC's graduate program. Robinson explained that UNC students have a leg up in the hiring process.

“Districts always tell us that our Bears stand out as well-prepared professionals and they are ready to thrive in their education careers,” Robinson said.

Employers at the fair are looking for students to fill a wide variety of positions from teachers, classroom aides, counselors, special education teachers, mental health professionals and much more.

The fair will host over 40 districts looking to fill a variety of positions. First-round interviews will be held at the fair, along with recruiters scheduling interviews and moving students along the hiring process. The fair is competitive and there has been an increase in students compared to past years.

Students who have attended in the past have come out of the experience with jobs that help set them up for success.

“It’s also a great starting point for students to learn more about the different school districts and organizations,” Robinson said.

The career fair is still in planning and there will be more information as the event gets closer.