The Oakland University Exploration Fair: Opportunities in Health and Natural Sciences brought students and employers together for a day of exploration and connection.
After recognizing that the Career and Life Design Center did not offer any career fairs specifically focused on healthcare, the event was created to provide a niche opportunity for students interested in health and natural sciences to engage with employers in the field.
A range of employers attended the fair, representing a variety of industries. Representatives from local hospitals, environmental groups, hospice centers and the Peace Corps attended the fair.
On Friday, March 13, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., students and employers gathered in Banquet Room A of the Oakland Center for the Exploration Fair: Opportunities in Health and Natural Sciences.
At the fair, students connected with companies in the health and natural sciences, met with potential employers and practiced networking within the field.
The Career and Life Design Center encouraged attendees to bring printed copies of their resumes and dress in business casual attire while engaging with professionals.
During the fair, employers offered students from a variety of majors the opportunity to learn about available positions within their organizations.
Theresa Pospiech, director of people and performance at Arch Environmental Group, noted that while many employees have environmental backgrounds, the company also highly values work experience.
“We mostly have environmental backgrounds, but we also have people who have moved through the company through work experience,” Pospiech said.
Athletico Physical Therapy, represented by Ashleigh Tazzioli, offers opportunities for a variety of health majors.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be in therapy, but we are open to anyone who potentially wants to gain exposure to patient-facing roles,” Tazzioli said.
Junior Fatoumata Samb attended the fair to network and gain an internship. Samb appreciated that the event offered a list of available opportunities for students.
“I’m looking into wellness programming, and anything related to health and wellness,” Samb said.
Junior Quantezz Turner attended the fair to search for long term work opportunities. As a junior, Turner prioritizes searching for opportunities before graduation occurs.
“An internship would be nice, but also I’m looking into something that I can apply to work at and gain experience once I graduate,” Turner said.
The Career and Life Design Center provided support to students in navigating the event.
Denise McConkey, a Career and Life Design Coach who works closely with students from OU’s School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, advised students to take advantage of every available opportunity.
“I know a lot of times students have specific employers that they are interested in, but check out other opportunities and make some connections outside of that as well,” McConkey said.
McConkey encourages students to remain authentic as opportunities are presented.
“Be yourself and be open to unexpected opportunities,” McConkey said.
Oakland University’s Exploration Fair: Opportunities in Health and Natural Sciences bridged the gap between academic study and real-world application. As opportunities were explored, students were empowered to engage with employers, ask questions and make impressions on prospective professionals.