Jobs Expo provides students with on-campus employment opportunities

Liberty University Career Services partnered with Human Resources to host a Liberty-exclusive Jobs Expo for students in the Montview Alumni Ballroom on March 7.

This marked the first time the two areas have collaborated to host such an event, which included over 25 different Liberty departments, such as Student Activities, Athletics, the Standing for Freedom Center, Flames Club, Office of Spiritual Development, Human Resources, Career Services, and others.

Matt Young, assistant director of employer relations for Career Services, noted that the departments recruited for full-time employment as well as internships, graduate assistantships, and student worker opportunities. Career Services looks forward to hosting this Jobs Expo every semester.

Young also recommended students visit Career Services, located on the second floor of Montview Student Union, early in their academic career to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides, such as weekly workshops, assistance with the job-seeker platform Handshake, as well as meeting with industry-specific career coaches.

“We definitely encourage students to schedule appointments as early as their freshman year to really start planning out their career journey,” Young said. “So, an event like this, as well as the other eight career fairs we conducted in the fall and five in the spring, are really designed to help students explore the world of work, whether they already have internships lined up or are looking for full-time employment.”

Jamie Swyers, director of HR partnerships and services, emphasized the benefits of the university tapping into its own reservoir of students to fill its employment needs.

“We were really excited to partner with Career Services because they have a long-standing history of offering exceptional career fairs Liberty students,” she said. “Liberty students have amazing connection with the mission of the university, and we have so many incredible employment opportunities, an amazing benefit package, including our continuing education program. Giving us an opportunity and a platform to recruit from our own student body for open positions is something we have never done before, but I think it is going to be a really impactful move for the university as a whole.”

“It doesn’t have to end with graduation; students can continue to experience and contribute to the mission of the university by taking their first career step here at Liberty,” Swyers added.

As students transition from schoolwork to full-time employment, they may become overwhelmed by the number of opportunities available to them but at the same time might not know who to contact. Christy Marker, talent acquisition manager for Human Resources, worked with Swyers to plan the event. She noted that it not only helped students, but also aided Liberty employers.

“I was once a student, so I felt like it would be really helpful for current students to have an easy way to access the people that they have a hard time getting in touch with and network,” she said. “For those who are about to graduate, this makes it easier for them and easy for those who need student workers or want to advertise an interesting entry-level position for those graduating. I felt that was a great way to mesh together and create this event so it can serve our student body but also serve the people that HR’s here to assist.”

Executive Vice President of Human Resources Steve Foster highlighted the positive impact that the department has on the university and all of its individual members. He also emphasized the great benefits that full-time employees receive, including free tuition through the Continuing Education program.

“If we keep God first and keep Him in front — if we serve following our values of service excellence, character, and respect — if we live out our lives that way, we believe that God will use that to impact the lives of other people,” he said. “We’re all here because of the students, and specifically, we are here because of our mission to Train Champions for Christ.”