Marcus Perry, left, talks with Jake Kirkland, assistant director of Career Services, at Tuesday's Career Fair. Photo: Ivana Jackson, NewsNetNebraska
Marcus Perry might have been a unique participant at the Fall Career Fair that opened at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Tuesday.
He left work early to attend. And he had to leave the fair early to get his wife to her job on time.
But he was interested in improving their situation, and he didn't allow his time constraints to deter him.
"If I talk to two people," Perry said, "I will be happy."
He glanced at the guide given to him during registration, trying to choose where to begin. After a few moments he decided to just explore the room. Perry wasn't sure what he could gain from the Career Fair, but he was hoping for the best.
More than 200 recruiters were scheduled to participate in the Fall Career Fair, so Perry and the other participants had plenty of potential employers.
Wells Fargo was one stop for Perry. Steve Lefeber, a district manager, complimented Perry on his communication skills and described others that were necessary to succeed at Wells Fargo. "We are looking for leadership and resilience," Lefeber told him. "That's what separates the average student from the above average student."
As Perry visited more booths, he became more comfortable. He found it helpful that some recruiters already knew his name, like the one from Fiserv, a technology banking services company, who made Perry smile when he said, "Hey, man, I've watched you play."
Perry, a former Husker basketball player, earned a bachelor's degree in communications studies at UNL in 2007. A knee injury spoiled his dreams of playing professional basketball.
"It's been a new experience," Perry said, "especially being an athlete all my life." He currently has a job selling furniture. He is paid on commission, and the struggling economy has affected his income. He and his wife have three children, and times have been difficult.
"But through prayer and trust in God, we have got through it," he said.
Perry's time at the Career Fair passed quickly. Before he could visit all the booths he hoped to, his wife called. He was pleased that he had made connections with several employers.
And that, said Christina Fielder, Career Fair coordinator, is what it's all about.
"We hope students make connections with employers and have the opportunity that leads to a career," she said.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
