UAPB/SEARK CAREER DAY DRAWS EMPLOYERS INTERESTED IN LOCAL GRADS

By Wes Clement/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Students shook hands Wednesday with dozens of representatives of companies undeterred from hiring by talk of economic insecurity.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas College teamed up to hold a career day/teacher education fair at UAPB drawing many state and national employers interested in young graduates.

“I think there are prospects — the companies here are hiring and looking for talent,” Dr. Hank Campbell, dean of the UAPB School of Business, said. “Many of them seem to be saying they have employees retiring and need to backfill talent.”

He commented many companies have not adequately prepared for the retirement of baby-boomers and are in need of educated employees.

“We’re still hiring and standing strong just as we have been,” Kira Crabtree, a representative of Marshall and Ilsley (M&I) Bank of Wisconsin, said when asked if economic conditions had impacted the company’s stance on hiring.

Similarly, many of the representatives reported hiring plans had not changed in light of the recent financial scare.

In addition to businesses, several representatives from school districts spoke with graduating education students. Graduate schools, such as the University of Northern Texas and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences were represented as well as government agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

UAPB students Andrew Brooks and Jeremy Yon said they did not perceive a shortage of job opportunities and were optimistic about prospective jobs.

Joseph Cogshell, a junior marketing/business major at UAPB said the school’s business faculty and career services department have helped him and many other students in the pursuit of employment by arranging internships.

Cogshell began an internship at Monsanto, an agricultural seed producer, last year and is likely to have a job with the company when he graduates, he said.