As an initiative to employ former and future graduates in today’s struggling economy, Northern Kentucky University held it’s annual Job Expo in the Student Union ballroom on Feb. 22. The expo is sponsored by the NKU Career Development Center. More than 100 employers were on hand to meet with students and alumni who plan to seek employment opportunities after graduation.

According to career advisor Amanda Meeker, the purpose of the NKU Job Expo is to give students the opportunity to connect and engage with high-profile companies in Greater Cincinnati. While Meeker says that the expo is a great prospect for students, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee them a job.

“The goal of the event is more for sharing information and scheduling interviews so it would be very unusual for someone to leave with a new job,” she said. Meeker also added that it is up to the students to follow up with their potential employers.

Becker Professional Education was one of the many vendors on hand for the event. According to Field Marketing Specialist Karen Diercks, Becker is a worldwide leader in providing quality education to professionals in the fields of finance, marketing and accounting.

She also added that Becker requires participants to take a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam, which tests students on their accounting skills and basic knowledge which in turn certifies students to become accountants. “The main goal of our company is to give students the tools and the resources necessary to succeed to in the business world,” Diercks said.

Western & Southern Financial Group is currently offering employment for the group’s sales and marketing department. District manager Ebony Balter said that Western & Southern Financial is not particularly looking for students with sales experience, but students who would be able to maintain a sense of stability with the company.

“Our company is really big on recruiting the right candidate for the right fit in a position such as this. We’re a very large and stable company,” she said.
Overall, the job expo was a success for the university. Meeker said the percentage of students who will become employed after graduation is yet to be determined. “In terms of placement rates, that data is being collected by the university, and we’re hoping to have some of the data later this year,” Meeker said.