Youngstown State University held a career and job interview resource seminar Wednesday in the Ohio Room located in Kilcawley Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Juniors and seniors were encouraged to attend the event as preparation for the Career Fair being held Sept. 30.
Services at the seminar included resume analysis, suit fitting, job interview advice, hair and color consultation and even how to tie a tie. Attendees were also offered one free, lightly-worn professional outfit.
Jennifer Johnson, director of career services, stressed the importance of appearance for a job interview.
“Students just really need to know how they have to dress for career fairs,” Johnson said. “This especially depends on their majors.”
Pursuit is a tailoring company aimed at young men that operates out of Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded by two MBA students from Ohio State University.
Jake Mendel, director of development at Pursuit, sat in the Ohio Room and spoke with attendees on the importance of appearance in a job interview.
“I actually train recruiters for Fortune 500 companies on how to size-up and identify potential candidates simply based on what they’re wearing,” Mendel said. “The fact that a Fortune 500 company would come to me and say that ‘I want you train recruiters to be able to spot well-dressed guys’ shows you how important it is to dress up.”
Pursuit made their first trip out of Columbus to come to YSU’s campus. Their truck, parked outside of the Chestnut Room, was open for men to visit and receive a suit fitting.
“The most important thing when dressing professionally is to nail the fit,” Mendel said. “If you nail the fit, it shows that you’re comfortable in your clothes, you understand what you’re doing and you’re not borrowing a suit from your dad.”
Operating out of a physical and online store, Pursuit offers services to young men at local universities and plans to expand outward to visit more campuses.
Attendees had the opportunity to speak with human resource experts from Mass Mutual, VEC and Vallourec. Representatives spoke with students about what they should expect from employers at the upcoming Career Fair.
Sayward Elliot, agency recruiting coordinator at Mass Mutual, advised many students on the ins and outs of job interviews.
“Look at the career services website in advance,” Elliot said. “Don’t just show up to the career fair that day, look at the book and see who the employers are.”
Elliot, like many other employers, will be attending many career fairs in the next six weeks. Elliot said that she speaks with at least 100 students at each of these.
“I’m not going to remember them,” Elliot said. “What I will remember, though, is a student that leaves here and goes ‘I really liked that. I’m going to email her just to say thanks so much for coming to the career fair today.’”
The event was organized by Career Services in collaboration with Phi Kappa Phi, the Fashion and Interior Design Merchandising Program, Student Affairs, Bridges Out of Poverty Student Union and Student Government Association.
Karen Becker is the coordinator of the Reading and Studies Skill Center, an affiliate of SGA and a member of Phi Kappa Phi.
“We started off doing this as a career service event before the career fair,” Becker said.
Becker spoke about students in need of proper attire for internships, careers and interviews. It is hoped that there will eventually be a closet on campus for students to acquire fitting clothes for future endeavors.
“We’re working toward an idea where students who are in need can get vouchers [for clothes] from an adviser to connect with us,” Becker said. “This is just the beginning.”