Virtual job fair labeled successful by WSU

CELINA — Area college students had a chance on Monday to visit with different career professionals and learn about jobs and other opportunities, albeit from a distance.

Wright State University – Lake Campus held its fourth annual Lake Campus Career Fair Monday afternoon in a virtual format, with employers available to chat with students through a program called Blackboard Collaborate Ultra.

“This really gives them a chance to kind of meet and greet also with the employers,” said Katy Popplewell, Lake Campus Career Services Advisor. “It gives them a chance to network and get a feel of that company and what they might be looking for as far as current and also future employment opportunities. Students can kind of flow in to different rooms to kind of get a feel what they might be hiring for.”

Through Collaborate Ultra, virtual rooms were set up where students could drop in to a session, talk with an employer, ask questions and receive answers right

away. Once they were done, they could exit and go right into another session.

One advantage to holding a career fair online is that it allows for flexibility.

“I do agree that it being a virtual event provides those without a means to transportation the opportunity to meet and greet with employers and learn more about current and future employment opportunities,” said Popplewell. “Another pro is the fact that students can move around freely to different employers and don’t have to wait in long lines.”

Popplewell noted some of the drawbacks of conducting the fair online, with one being technological issues including microphone issues and difficulties sharing videos, documents and screens.

She said that the career fair was much different than what she had anticipated in early March, but deemed it a success and she said she would like to add another expo to the calendar so that the college can hold one in the fall and one in the spring.

“I would rate today’s event as really good,” she said. “Overall, I wasn’t sure how many students would participate and if there would be a good turnout — It turned out a lot better than I anticipated.”