Diverse Careers

More than 500 students and 80 employers attended UWM’s Diversity Career Day Thursday in the UWM Union, a seasonal event that provided job seekers an opportunity to sell themselves to employers.

Victoria Pryor, Student Services Coordinator from the Black Cultural Center, says this this year was a success.

“We’re always getting more students! We have materials to help with their presentation when they talk with employers,” said Pryor. UWM has been holding this event for more than 40 years.

“We’re trying to find the best way to communicate with students, whether it is Facebook, (or) Social media. Students communicate differently today when before it was just a flyer, or a simple email, they get so many emails! We’re just trying to find the best ways to inform them,” said Walker.

Some of those materials included pamphlets on where each employer was located, how to approach them, and what types of questions to ask. A coaching center was also set up just outside the entrance of the event to help students with any of these issues before walking into event.

The event lasted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and took place in the Wisconsin Room on the second floor of the UWM Union. Motivated by a struggling economy, students came to learn more about potential future employers and to introduce themselves in order to try and walk away with an application or a potential interview.

From Pepsi to Walmart, a broad range of employers attended the event, adding up to 86 in all. Companies attending the event stated UWM students are a great place to find future employees. The event wasn’t just for minority groups, Pryor said one of the misnomers about Diversity Career day is that it isn’t for everyone, however all students are welcomed to attend.

Students from the College of Engineering and College of Letters and Science are the two most popular attending groups, according to Pryor.

The event was sponsored by the Career Development Center. Ada Walker, the Career Development Center’s Recruiting Manager, says this has been an ongoing event for some 40 years and they’ve adapted over time.

The event originated as “Minority Career Day,” where underrepresented groups got together and worked with the Career Development Center to decide they wanted their own career day. The event later became known as “Multicultural Career Day,” and finally to what it is today, “Diversity Career Day.” as the minority group grew over the years.

The Career Development Center provides workshops prior to career day events to help students prepare themselves for when the next event comes around.

“It’s never too early to put yourself out there,” said Pryor.

The next job fair is scheduled for May 3^rd 2012, and will take place in the same location.