SPH Virtual Career and Practicum Fair to Connect Students, Employers on March 11.
SPH Virtual Career and Practicum Fair to Connect Students, Employers on March 11
The event will feature almost 80 employers representing all major sectors of public health.
School of Public Health students and alumni in search of practicum and job opportunities will be able to connect with employers at the click of a button at SPH’s Virtual Career and Practicum Fair—Spring 2021 on Thursday, March 11.
Hosted by the Career and Practicum Office (CPO), the fair will take place on the CareerEco platform from 3 to 7 pm and will connect hundreds of interested candidates with almost 80 companies, organizations, and agencies representing all major sectors of public health.
The fair’s online format poses several benefits, including less travel time and more face-time between candidates and employer representatives.
“One silver lining of COVID has been the opportunity to leverage technology,” says Lisa Toby, assistant dean for careers and practicum. “We have a record number of participating employers who we invited—including alumni—and the virtual option has opened up more doors with out-of-state employers such as CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services], Tennessee Department of Health, Northwell Health, Palladium, and World Relief.”
The employers at the fair will represent the public and private sectors, including government, nonprofits, hospitals, consulting, pharmaceutical companies, and more.
During the fair, each employer’s chat room will remain open to an unlimited number of attendees, but representatives can arrange to meet privately with candidates throughout the event, says Stern Chamblain, director of external relations for CPO.
“The CareerEco platform is interactive and intuitive,” says Chamblain. “It enables the student to learn and digest more about an organization to see if it is a good fit for their career, and allows for direct engagement between the students, recent graduates, and employers to build their networks.”
The pandemic disrupted many plans for both practicums and new hires last summer, but summer 2021 is looking brighter for internship and hiring prospects, he says. Companies have started to adapt to support students in remote capacities to ensure the practicum or job is a fulfilling opportunity where they can gain practical skills and experience. The number of positions that companies are actively recruiting for continues to increase, particularly in the private sector and in epidemiology roles in government agencies due to the pandemic, Chamblain says.
Despite the setback of COVID-19 in 2020, SPH achieved a 93 percent placement rate for graduates finding employment within six months after graduation last year, says Chamblain. “We are very hopeful that jobs will continue to bounce back as we get into spring and more people are vaccinated.” he says.
Both he and Toby say that alums play a central role in recruitment for post-graduate positions and practicum opportunities.
“Our alums are incredible ambassadors, and students love talking to them about their organizations and the work they are doing,” says Toby. “I’m thrilled that our students will be able to explore so many opportunities. There has never been a more exciting and important time for public health.”
To learn more or register for the SPH Virtual Career and Practicum Fair on March 11, click here.