September 24, 2009
Video of the Fall 2009 Job Expo at BMCC. 
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The economy may be feeling cold, but the energy was heating up at a recent BMCC job fair held in Richard Harris Terrace. At the Fall 2009 Job Expo, students and alumni—decked out in professional attire, resumes in hand—were eager to meet prospective employees from more than 50 companies.
The Job Expo was a collaboration between BMCC's Center for Career Development and the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP). Those in attendance were BMCC students and alumni seeking part-time and full-time jobs and internships.
More than 500 students attended the Job Expo, walking from booth to booth to learn more about various career opportunities while picking up some giveaways.
Because BMCC offers classes seven days a week, in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, many students balance a job with their academics. Those who don't are oftentimes seeking employment in this tough economy, which led to this year’s large, positive turnout at the Job Expo.
Prospective Employees, "Have To Be Friendly"
Some of the companies represented at the Job Expo included WB Mason Co., Inc., Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions, Avon, The New York Police Department, Macy's, GAP Inc., Victoria's Secret, TD Bank and many more.
"At the last BMCC Job Expo I hired several students as sales associates," said Roshelle Robertson, a recruiter for Macy's department stores in Brooklyn, who set up her booth just outside the BMCC cafeteria. "Prospective employees have to be friendly and not afraid to talk to customers."
Robertson said that Macy's flexible hours make it a great place for students to work while attending classes at BMCC. In fact, some Macy's employees work just on weekends, leaving weekdays open for their academics.
According to Robertson, an attractive resume is one that is clear, detailed and to-the-point. "The more I know about you from your resume, the more likely I am to hire you," she said.
Students Have Stand-Out Resumes
Edward Campbell, a BMCC accounting major, heard about the Job Expo from a professor and decided to check it out. "I spoke with a few companies so far," he said. "Everyone was very informative and helpful."
Campbell believes his knowledge of finance and accounting, makes him an ideal candidate for a job in the financial sector.
Liberal Arts major Nikolay Kabanov was hoping to speak with companies who shared his passion for 'green' jobs. "I created a 'green' club in my high school and I speak English, Russian, German and Spanish," he said. "I think that helps me stand out in the job market."
Some of the companies in attendance at the Expo currently employ BMCC students. "We have some BMCC students working with us right now," said Charlie Coe, a recruiter for Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC), an organization that helps individuals with an autism spectrum disorder. "We're looking for educated, kind people to work for us."
Job Expo, "A Collaborative Effort"
Before students even entered the Expo, representatives from BMCC's Center for Career Development reviewed their resumes and made sure they were dressed professionally.
“Many of our students were offered interviews," said Driada Rivas, Career Development Coordinator for the Center for Career Development. "It is fantastic to see our students grow and succeed.”
BMCC’s Center for Career Development operates and oversees informative programs about job hunting and resume construction throughout the year.
"This Expo was truly a collaborative event between ASAP and Career Services," said Michael Stahl, Employment Specialist for BMCC's ASAP program. "We take records on how many students get jobs from these on-campus job fairs, and many of them do," he said. "Career Development worked very hard to prepare these students for this fair."
In fact, last year, according to Stahl, clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch set up a booth at the Expo and hired 50 BMCC students to work in their stores.
"All the companies here today are hiring in today's economy, and we have great students here today who will make great employees," he said.
