The UW-Platteville Career Center is hosting the Spring 2008 Career Fair for students to find potential jobs after college. There will be two sessions for those who are interested in contacting potential employers and breaking into the business world.Diana Trendt, interim director for the Career Center, said the Career Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 14, in Velzy Commons in Ullsvik Hall. There will be 66 companies attending the Feb. 12 session for the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture and the College of Liberal Arts and Education. The session on Feb. 14 is for the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science and will have 113 companies attending.

Trendt said students who are planning on going to the Career Fair can preregister using their UWPioneer Career Network account. This will allow a student to have a printed name tag before they show up and it will help speed up the process when the student does show up to the Career Fair.

“I hope all of our students attend,” Trendt said. Students are encouraged to attend both days, not just the day designated for their major.

Students attending should also be prepared before coming to the Career Fair by having a completed résumé, a padded folio that has paper and a place for business cards and questions for the representatives Trendt said.

John Holthaus, personnel specialist for Growmark, said it is a good idea to ask company representatives what employers look for in a candidate. It shows that the person is interested in a position and gives them an idea of what the company is looking for.

“Don’t stand back and be shy,” Holthaus said.

Holthaus said making eye contact and initiating the conversation is very important when talking with representatives.

An attendee should dress business casual Holthaus said. A dress shirt, tie and pants would be fine for a man attending. A woman attending the Career Fair could wear dress pants and a blouse or a dress. A nice suit or an elegant dress is not always necessary.

Scott Esser, project engineer for Alliance Laundry Systems, said students should dress sharp. Students can show the representative they are interested in the company by asking questions and having an understanding about the company beforehand.

Students should also prepare themselves mentally for the Career Fair so the person is ready for anything that the representative may ask Esser said.

Trendt said attendees should also be prepared for interviews directly after the Career Fair on the same day or later on in the week. Companies like Alliance Laundry Systems will be conducting on-campus interviews at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14.

Information regarding the Career Fair, setting up an account, or information on companies attending can be found on the Career Center’s Web page, uwplatt.edu/careercenter, by calling the Career Center at 608-342-1183 or going to 0200 Ullsvik Hall.