Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Fostering career success

Correspondent

Eastern New Mexico University's annual Career Fair on Thursday afternoon had around 75 students attend within the first two hours, according to ENMU's Career Counselor Jacquelyn Campbell.

"We are trying to turn student success into career success," said Campbell.

Staff photo: Alisa Boswell

Tom Cordova, left, senior recruiter for Los Alamos National Laboratory, talks to Eastern New Mexico University students Krysten Finney, center, a biology major, and Makayla Gordon, a business major, during the ENMU Job Fair Thursday afternoon.

The career fair was held in the Campus Union Building Ballroom from noon to 4 p.m. but is not the only event Career Services has coming up. A Teacher Fair will be held in April, according to Campbell.

Kurt Munz-Raper, who is finishing up his Master's in Communications, attended the Thursday afternoon fair.

"I am looking for the next step, more specifically a writing position," said Munz-Raper.

Munz-Raper also stated that he would like to see more options at the fair, such as more graduate programs, but that it is much easier said than done.

U.S. Forest Service Federal Student Ambassador Dakota Lovelace said this was her first time working at the career fair, but she had attended the previous year as a student.

"It gives you a different perspective. It is more nerve-wracking as a student to sit down and do an on the spot interview," said Lovelace.

The Forestry table had only seen 6 students by 2 p.m., according to Lovelace.

"My role is to do outreach for the forestry service to as many students as I can on campus. It's a good experience," said Lovelace.

ENMU Junior Anissa Lucero stopped by the Federal Bureau of Investigations table.

"I've always wanted to do investigative work or police work. It's my major," said Lucero.

Lucero said the FBI representative was helpful and gave her information about an internship opportunity for the summer of 2017.

"I graduate in three semesters. It's time to start looking at career opportunities, and I needed an internship so this helps," said Lucero.

Christina Delgado with ENMRSH also had a table at the career fair.

"We are looking for people who want to work, are compassionate, and people who care for other people. It takes a special kind of person," said Delgado.

Some people do not realize that caring for people is their calling, she said.

"Some people don't know this is their calling; they stumble into it working here as a college student," said Delgado.

ENMRSH will also be at the career fair in Clovis next week, according to Delgado.

Sodexo Unit Marketing Coordinator Hannah Spearman had a table at the fair as well.

"We are not hiring right now, but we are still trying to educate ENMU students about how large Sodexo is. There is so much more than what is in Portales. There is room to move up and to different locations; we have six different locations just in New Mexico," said Spearman.

The teacher fair will be held in the CUB Ballroom from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 29 , said Campbell.

Any professional position openings that companies might have can be sent to [email protected] to be posted on the Career Services page of ENMU's website.