SHL hosts successful virtual career fair

The School of Hospitality Leadership recently hosted its first virtual career fair on the Handshake platform.

Working with the COB Career Center, SHL set up the fair that provided 28 employers access to more than 100 future leaders in the hospitality management industry. A resume book of all registered students was sent to each employer, which led to each student averaging more than three interactions with individual employers.

Participating companies, representing North Carolina, Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia and South Carolina, included:

• BPR Properties
• CEC Entertainment, Inc.
• Cedar Point
• Concord Hospitality
• Coral Bay Club
• Dodge Development DBA Equipment Plus Total Facility Solutions
• East Carolina University & Graduate Programs
• FCM Hotels
• Harrahs Cherokee
• Kandle Dining Services Inc.
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort
• Kings Dominion
• Marriott International
• Montage International Hotels and Resorts
• North Ridge Country Club, Raleigh NC
• Northwest Restaurants
• Parks Hospitality Group
• Peter Millar
• Philly Steak Subs
• Pinehurst Resort & Country Club
• Sanderling Resort
• Sherwin-Williams Company
• Shoreacres
• Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
• Star Restaurant Group
• The Country Club
• Valor Hospitality Partners
• WDI Hospitality LLC
• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Students had a chance to participate in information-sharing sessions in either a group setting or in one-on-one meetings. To prepare for those one-on-one meetings, SHL hosted a series of practice interviews before the fair that featured SHL’s advisory council members conducting interviews.

Hailee Austin, right, speaks with a representative from Kandle Dining.

“The career fair not only gave me the opportunity to meet and talk to employers, but it also opened my eyes to new experiences and opportunities through hospitality,” said Hailee Austin. “This is my second year attending the career fair, and I am so grateful for it. It prepares students to talk to future employers and gives them the possibly to learn about opportunities for our career.”

“Employers offered internships and starting managerial positions located across the country,” said Dr. Bob O’Halloran, director, SHL. “Those alone make this year’s career fair a success.”

Plans for next year’s SHL Career Fair are already in the works. The status of the fair, i.e, virtual or face-to-face, will be decided later in the year.

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