The Job Hunt: UNA Partners With Regional Universities for NACPED Career Fair

Feb. 9, 2011

FLORENCE, Ala. – University of North Alabama students who are looking for a job will have the opportunity to network with 58 large companies at the North Alabama Connection: Professional Employment Day (NACPED) Feb. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

UNA’s Career Planning and Development is partnering with other regional colleges and universities, including Athens State, Wallace State, Calhoun, Alabama A&M and Oakwood, for a career fair, in which students will meet with employers to fill potential job openings. In its 25th year, NACPED has brought dozens of businesses, industries, governmental agencies and school systems to the fair to help students find work.

“Students need to look at all avenues,” said Melissa Medlin, director of Career Planning and Development. “The competition is so tough right now. The jobs are not going to come to you, so you have to be proactive. For students who aren’t about to graduate, this is a great event to get ready in building networks and in seeing what opportunities are out there.”

Some of the large employers that will be present at the NACPED career fair include Alabama state departments, school systems, Intergraph, Peace Corps, Social Security Administration, Sherwin-Williams, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Health South and more.

UNA students majoring in a variety of academic studies, such as accounting, finance, business management, marketing, liberal arts, biology, chemistry, education and computer science, will find their niche at the NACPED career fair.

Students who attend are encouraged to arrive early, bring a quality resumé, dress neatly and professionally, research the companies beforehand and build confidence and enthusiasm to impress prospective employers.

For more information, contact UNA Career Planning and Development at 256-765-4276. A list of NACPED participants is available at career.una.edu.