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Careers as Far as the Eye Can See

By Elissa K. Harvill

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Click Photo to Enlarge Eddie and Glenda Peters, recruiting teachers for Alaska schools, came to the fair knowing that ORU has "good people and good standards."

Click Photo to Enlarge As volunteer coordinator for the American Red Cross, Kimberly (Cearley, Class of '94) Coble came looking for interns as well as full-time accountants, writers, and marketing types.

Click Photo to Enlarge ORU alumni-founded Tulsa.tv, which helped publicize the career fair, showed up to do some recruiting as well. Here, CEO Andrew Clark gets ready to demonstrate the Tulsa.tv Web site from his laptop.

The spring career fair, held on March 1, has come and gone, having brought with it job opportunities galore and having left interview prospects and résumés from eager candidates in its wake. "I think it's the best one we've ever had," declared Donna Bratschun, assistant to the College and Career Guidance Center's director, John Brown, during a post-fair conversation.

More than 60 employers came to ORU, representing companies and organizations from as far away as Florida, Washington, D.C., and even Alaska. Most employers were looking for candidates with character and high standards to fill professional-level openings.

Special Agent Kim Mills of the FBI came looking to connect with job hunters from all backgrounds. Of course, ORU, with all its degree fields, is always ripe for harvest. "We're recruiting for tech jobs, engineering, science, and nursing, as well as special agents, analysts, and support positions. Many start out as analysts before moving on to other fields," she explained.

Former ORU worship leader Arlie Whitlow (Class of '93) came to find a youth minister and a worship leader for Victory's Crossing Church, the church he pastors in Washington, D.C. Other alumni representing employers included: Kimberly (Cearley, Class of '94) Coble, from the American Red Cross, Jay Em (Class of '05) and Andrew Clark (Class of '04), owners of Tulsa.tv, and Jean Caceres-Gonzalez (Class of 1983), founder of His House Children's Home in Miami, Fla. (see Excellence, Summer 2003).

So why recruit at ORU? "We know that ORU students have a good work ethic," said Jay Em of Tulsa.tv. "ORU produces people of character and excellence."

With the variety of employers present, it appeared that John Brown, director of the career center, may have reached his personal goal of having two employers present for each major.

"[The fair] is good just to help me see what's out there," said senior David Lawrence. "I like to see what my options are, who's hiring, and think about what I can contribute."

As for the next fair, Brown and Bratschun are planning to direct most of their energies into planning a larger regional fair for the spring of 2007, possibly to be held in the Mabee Center and open to other colleges in a multi-state region.

To contact ORU's College and Career Guidance Center, call 918/495.6912 or e-mail John Brown at jbrown@oru.edu.