Fall Career Fair Held October 4

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
10/4/2023

More than 100 employers and nearly 500 job seekers and students came together to make connections on the Iowa Central Campus at the annual Fall Career Fair on October 4.

Many local employers looking to hire were on hand to speak with attendees about job opportunities, including Nestle Purina, which has a manufacturing plant in Fort Dodge.

Jen Leiting, a human resources representative from the Fort Dodge Purina Plant said she had a good turn out of students stopping by her booth throughout the morning.

“We’ve had a great turnout today,” said Leiting. “We’ve spoken with a lot of maintenance, robotics and industrial technology students.”

One attraction at the Purina booth was their four-legged ambassador for the day, Beau, a 2-year-old Aussiedoodle. He caught the attention of attendees as they passed by with his tricks and willingness to play some fetch with anyone who’d toss his ball while they chatted with Leiting about potential job opportunities.  

“He’s definitely a people puppy,” said Leiting.

Besides the puppy cuddles, the Purina booth was a spot to make connections for the future.

“The students seem to be very interested,” said Leiting. “They may not be here today for an immediate hire, but they can make that connection and have knowledge of the types of jobs we have. One great thing is that we do have a location in Fort Dodge for those who want to stay close to home, but we are also a global organization with plants all over the country where they can find jobs no matter where they go.”

Sarah Cummins, a first year EMT/Paramedic student stopped to chat with representatives from the Fort Dodge Fire Department as well as several of the hospitals represented at the career fair. One advantage, she said, was discovering that many healthcare organizations will assist students in furthering their education while providing them with a job.

“It’s amazing how many different employers are here today that will help you pay to get your paramedic degree while you work for them,” she said.

One healthcare organization on hand to meet with job seekers was Sanford Health, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Along with careers in the medical field, Sanford Human Resources Specialist Brian Duncanson said a big portion of their hiring is presently happening in the area of technology.

“We’ve met several IT students,” said Duncanson. “We are in the process of building a virtual hospital; IT and cyber jobs are huge for us right now.”

Eric Oberg, director of Career Services at Iowa Central said the day went well with a steady flow of students and job seekers coming through the doors.  He said the day was a team effort with various departments on hand to assist with making the career fair possible.

“The photography students are here today to provide free headshots,” Oberg said. “The football team was also a big help with getting everyone loaded and unloaded in the Career Education Building.”

The Fall Career Fair is one of two held on campus each year, with a Spring Career Fair held set for March 26, 2024.