Autumn Sanford and Katelynn Bell visit booths and talk to job recruiters at the fall 2014 Job Fair Nov. 7 at Carter Fitness Center.
During the past year, the United States has seen its unemployment rate drop to 5.8 percent.
Local businesses and members of the Amarillo College community hoped to help the rate continue dropping in November by participating in the college’s second job fair. Sixty-three employers visited the Washington Street Campus Nov. 7 at Carter Fitness Center.
Companies such as Amarillo National Bank, Xcel Energy, Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital and Affiliated Foods Inc. set up tables with freebies and information from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair was open to AC students and members of the Amarillo community who were looking for possible employment.
As students walked around the center, they were offered incentives along with employment at some of the booths.
Amarillo National Bank offered to pay for health insurance, while Xcel offered up to 80 percent of tuition reimbursement.
Students attending the fair had a variety of reasons for doing so.
“I’m looking for anything to pay the bills, since my girlfriend and I live on our own,” said Dakota Sharp, a first-year psychology major.
Sharp visited with representatives of companies such as Affiliated Foods, who focus on promoting from within the company, and BSA, who have positions in departments such as hospitality and transporting. Nursing students gathered to find out what it would take to secure a position after graduation.
Other students were lucky enough to find jobs with employers, such as Amarillo Independent School District, that coincided with their majors, allowing them to begin making connections for their futures.
“I really liked AISD, because it is working with kids and allows me the opportunity to do what I’m going to school for now,” said Alexa Lopez, a childhood development major.
Some students saw the fair as a chance to improve their networking skills, interacting with several different employers.
While more than 300 students took advantage of the fair, several alumni showed up as well.
“We believe it opens the doors to AC students to go and meet future employers, as well as letting those employers seek students and alumni by holding it here on campus,” said Amanda Beckford, a career center specialist.
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