The Spring Internship & Career Expo will bring 63 businesses and organizations to the Stetson University campus on Feb. 21 to talk to students and alumni about job opportunities.

The employers will gather in the Rinker Field House from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, including big names like AdventHealth and Central Florida school districts, and smaller ones like YMCA Camp Winona. 

Some employers are offering part-time jobs immediately, such as the 2020 Census with a pay range of $14.50 to $19.50 per hour, depending on the location and responsibilities. The first 20 students in line for the expo will receive a $10 Chick-fil-A gift card.

With so many employers looking to fill positions, students can be sure to make a polished, professional first impression by spending just a couple hours to prepare. A few tips:

• The Office of Career and Professional Development offers a Drop-In Area from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays on the second floor of the Rinker Welcome Center. No appointment needed.
• Students can draft a resume there, using a selection of easy templates, and practice with Career Peers on what to say when meeting prospective employers. 
• Appointments may be available at other times, including evening hours on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., by emailing [email protected].

“I would encourage students to stop in to our Drop-In Area,” said Tim Stiles, executive director of the Office of Career and Professional Development. “We created it to help students who maybe are preparing at the last minute or thinking about this on the fly.”

But even if students don’t have time to stop by, they can still get assistance at Friday’s expo. When they sign in at the Hollis Center, Rinker Field House, they will be directed through Career Preparation Lines where they can practice giving handshakes, making eye contact and delivering an “elevator pitch” to introduce themselves to employers.

“A lot of students, if they haven’t been to an expo, we’re trying to help them reduce the anxiety, give them a little more confidence and they always know we’re there, in case they need to come back for a little more practice,” Stiles said.

He recommends graduating seniors wear full business attire (business suits for men; pants or skirts suits for women). First-year students to juniors who are seeking internships may dress in business casual. 

This month, Stetson and JCPenney are teaming up again to offer up to 60% discounts on business attire to students, alumni, faculty and staff. The JCPenney Suit-Up Event is set for Sunday, Feb. 23, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Volusia Mall in Daytona Beach.

Free transportation is available, but space is limited, so RSVP for the bus here. In addition, students in the School of Business Administration can apply for a $50 JCPenney gift card for the shopping event.

The goal is to help students not only prepare for the expo, but also gain the necessary life skills to land an internship and a job, and develop a business network that will open doors throughout their careers.

“To me, it’s about bringing Stetson together with the external community – not only employers but also our alumni who work for those employers and come back to connect with students,” Stiles said. “To me, it’s one of the best examples we have of building that community of connections. We’re going to help students be successful.”