Maggie Lile, features editor
“The job and internship market is tough right now. On average, the job search takes 4-6 months to land a job. The amount of ghost positions listed on job and internship boards continues to rise,” said Morgan Knutzen, Augsburg’s career services director, in an interview with the Echo. Landing any job is difficult enough as it is, but there are so many questions that come along with the process — is this the right fit for me? Do I have the right qualifications? What would my weekly schedule look like? Will this job open new doors for me down the road? That being said, “…the power of an individual connection with an employer is key to helping you stand out above the crowd.”
Taking place on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Minnesota Private Colleges’ (MNPC) Spring Internship and Job Fair will help you make that individual connection you need. “The MNPC Job and Internship Fair is a great opportunity for Augsburg students,” Knutzen said. “It’s a partnership between all of the private higher education institutions in Minnesota to do two things: provide students with the opportunity to meet more employers than any [one] school could host at an individual fair, [and] show employers the amazing talent of students who choose private education.”
The MNPC Job and Internship Fair is a great opportunity for Augsburg students, Knutzen said. It’s a partnership between all of the private higher education institutions in Minnesota to do two things: provide students with the opportunity to meet more employers than any [one] school could host at an individual fair, [and] show employers the amazing talent of students who choose private education.
morgan knutzen
While it may be Knutzen’s job to tell students to attend the fair, she is also speaking from her own experience when explaining the benefits. “When I was a graduate student looking for a new job after spending a few years at a small nonprofit, I made a connection with the City of St. Paul that turned into a job working for Mayor Coleman,” they said. “It wasn’t an immediate shift, but I followed up with the recruiter after the fair, and they connected me to a few employees to do informational interviews with, and the rest is history.”
Whether you’re searching for future career path ideas, a summer internship, a part-time job or if you’re gearing up to take your first step into the real world as a full-time employee, the over 200 organizations at your fingertips will be able to guide you in one way or another. “Employers are looking for students who are open to exploring what their organizations have to offer,” Knutzen stated. “They are looking for students who make a good first impression with their elevator pitch, ask meaningful questions, and share their resume. Even if students aren’t immediately looking for a role, recruiters are looking for students to add to their talent network so they know who they can share open roles with when they become available.”
“The best piece of advice I can give is to show up. It’s comfortable to stay [in] your room and scan job boards – as an introvert, I prefer this!” Knutzen added. “It can feel awkward approaching employers who are behind their tables, and give what feels like an overly formal introduction about yourself. But in today’s job market, a personal connection, even a quick one at the fair, can make or break whether your resume makes it to the hiring manager. The only way that can happen is if you make the time, and show up.”