Friday, September 3, 2010
A Bright Spot in a Challenging Economy
2010 Long Island Works Student Job & Internship Fair
Dressed for success with resumes in-hand, more than 1,300 students attended the 14th  region-wide, Long Island Works Coalition (LI Works) Internship/Student Job Fair on January 12 at the Huntington Hilton, Melville. Open to high school juniors through graduate school students, more than 80 organizations met with their future workforce.   Companies including National Grid, OSI Pharmaceuticals & Big Buzz Communications know what a valuable resource interns are in a challenging economy.
 
“I was very pleased that there were so many companies at the fair, and a wide variety to choose from. I found internships that I had interest in ranging from marketing to being a peer mentor. In addition I found the workshops to be very helpful. Interviews can be very nerve wracking, so I thought that the seminar on "How to Brand Yourself" put me at ease. Following the seminar I went to the interview tips workshop in which I learned the best ways to practice highlighting my skills in a professional manner.” said Jamie Michelman, a senior at SUNY New Paltz.
  
Eric Reutlinger, of Big Buzz Communications, a LI Works Coalition trustee, said “I have never had a more qualified, enthusiastic, or professional response for potential interns…this is by far the place for local companies to find the best possible people. My advice to any corporate recruiters - if you need interns, attend this fair, you can establish the next years worth of incoming talent into your company in one night!”
 
LI Works Executive Director, Cheryl Davidson, commented “Students met with Long Island businesses, saw the variety of positions within the companies, took advantage of free seminars, and learned about the competitive nature of the career process,” she added.
 
One of several LI Works initiatives to stem the ‘brain drain’ tide, the Fair is held in January to attract students returning home for the holiday break and those enrolled in local schools. 
In addition to learning about career opportunities on Long Island, students polished their presentation and job search skills with free guidance from LI Works’ team of volunteer business professionals. One of the many seminars was given by Motorola on E-Resumes.   Mock interviews and resume reviews were offered on a one-on-one basis and a series of seminars from industry experts were presented to students and to their parents.