Two events from the University of Florida Career Connections Center, part of the Division of Student Affairs, will offer a leg up in the hiring process to students seeking careers as government officials, public administrators, campaign staffers and more. The first event, “Working in Our Nation’s Capital,” will feature three expert-led virtual panels on Feb. 22, followed by the Careers in Government, Public Service and Non-profits Fair, held virtually on Feb. 24.
“There are a significant number of jobs – internships and full-time positions available now in D.C.,” said Nicole Yucht, the director for integrated partnerships at the Career Connections Center, or C3. “What we’re trying to do is to expose students to these opportunities and consider the many different career options available as a Gator in D.C.”
Yucht said the Working in Our Nation’s Capital panels were designed to highlight the firsthand experiences of federal employees, student interns and staff from Congress, federal agencies and political campaigns. Undergraduate and graduate students can register to attend any combination of one-hour panels, which will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“This event serves our students in a great way because it provides real-world context about what it is really like to live and work in the nation’s capital, the types of positions available and what employers are looking for,” she said.
The Careers in Government, Public Service and Non-profits Fair will take place virtually on Feb. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students can find a full list of employers attending the fair and meet with recruiters on Career Fair Plus, a free mobile app for virtual fairs. Organizations, including AmeriCorps, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be hiring for roles in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, education, public health and conservation.
The C3, the Office of Government and Community Relations and Student Government collaborated to host these events. Yucht said the three will continue partnering to ensure the timing of future events coincides with the hiring and recruiting schedule for local, state and federal jobs.
“These events should be a great way for our students to connect with Gators in D.C. about some of the most fascinating jobs around,” said Mark Kaplan, vice president of government and community relations at UF. “Thanks to the support of our congressional delegation, the job fair on the 24th will also include recruiters from a variety of federal agencies and departments who are actively looking for the best and brightest students and graduates to join their teams.”
“This is not a one-and-done thing,” Yucht added. “We’re really looking to make this a series so students can understand what these careers in government can look like – it’s anything from the CDC to NASA to the USDA. There are a lot of opportunities there for Gators representing almost every major and professional program.”
The C3 hosted almost 100 virtual events last semester and will hold nine more fairs this semester, including more niche events to connect students to employers in their specialties, Yucht said.
The C3 offers resources to help students prepare for career fairs, including guides for resumes and LinkedIn profiles, a professional clothing lending service, and same-day virtual appointments with career coaches.
For more information about the Career Connections Center, visit career.ufl.edu.
Sources: Nicole Yucht, nyucht@ufsa.ufl.edu;
Mark Kaplan, mark.kaplan@ufl.edu