BY ALEXA CHERRY
What are you doing on Feb. 18 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.? Here is a related, slightly less vague question: where will you be working this summer? If your answer is “I don’t know” or worse yet, “I wasn’t going to work,” let me gently steer you in the direction of the annual Job Fair hosted by Career Services here on campus. It’s going to be in the Mourant Cafeteria during the previously stated time slot—don’t worry, you can still go in to get food and caffeine—and it’s a prime opportunity to scope out potential money-making options for the upcoming summer break.
If you’re not sure yet about whether or not you’ll be staying on campus for summer break, know that you don’t have to be! Going just to scope out the companies that will be there is an option, and there’s no commitment involved – you can take as many applications and business cards as you want. And who knows, maybe you’ll see a company you really want to work for! Another thing you shouldn’t worry about too much is showing up prepared. If you really want a job, obviously you should try to look pretty sharp, but as long as you take a shower and don’t show up in grimy sweatpants I think you’ll be okay. If you’re still worried, though, I recommend checking out http://www.uas.alaska.edu/ and typing “Career Services” into the search bar – the Career Services page should be the first link, and then in the sidebar to the left they have a page called “Job Fair 2015” which lays out some guidelines and gives helpful tips and tricks for navigating a college job fair.
As for what kind of companies will be there looking to hire, here are a few that showed up last year:
• Alaska Canopy Adventures
• Coastal Helicopters
• Dolphin Tours
• Alaska Brewery
The list will probably be slightly different this year, but I’m sure a lot of similar companies will show up. So if you’re just curious, bring a reasonable outfit and your best attitude! If you’re seriously interested, bring those things and a résumé (not required, but certainly recommended). And have fun! You don’t want to spend your summer being bored, after all.