Nursing Job Fair Helps Current Students Find Future Employers

The Delaware Tech Owens Campus held a job fair in the Student Service Center on Wednesday October 23 from 11am-3pm. It was organized to inform nursing students of available job opportunities within the community.

The event was sponsored by Career Services and the Nursing Resource Committee. It was created to help students prepare for future employment and the organizers even offered individualized help to ensure success. Students were advised to bring an updated copy of their resume to the event but were also told that they could email Career Services if they needed help preparing it.

The Bayada Home Health Care and Sun Behavioral Health representatives

wait for students to approach. (Photo: Emily Zimmerman)

Many students attended this event to see what it offered. Kelli Dunt, who works in student affairs, said that approximately 135 students were present at the job fair.

Walter Davis, a nursing instructor, was this year’s event organizer. According to Davis, there will be about 27 employers present, and the main employers for the state of Delaware will be there as well. This variety in employment opportunities will let students know just how many options are available to them. “I think this will be a great benefit for every nursing student to attend,” said Davis.

There were many students walking throughout the event and perusing the tables. One such student was Chloë Bartholomew, a third-year nursing student at DTCC. Bartholomew said “I talked to several great hospitals around the Sussex County area. I’ll be graduating soon, so it was a great opportunity to speak to representatives from so many great facilities.”

Yassmine Zerrad (seen left) listens to representatives with her classmates. (Photo: Emily Zimmerman)

Another student present was Yassmine Zerrad, a nursing student scheduled to graduate in December of 2020. She came to the job fair with her class because her teacher didn’t want them to miss out. When discussing the future, Zerrad said, “I hope to see myself in a Masters Program within the next five years.”

While it was a great opportunity for students, the Nursing Job Fair was also beneficial for the employers and company representatives present. This fair allows them to meet future employees in person and see if they are a good fit. They can communicate face to face rather than through emails.

A Maxim representative, Erica Hollinger, tidies up her table while waiting for students to approach. (Photo: Emily Zimmerman)

Erica Hollinger, a healthcare recruiter, was present at the fair to represent the company Maxim. This is a home health care agency that hires home health aides, certified nursing assistants (CNA’s), licensed practical nurses (LPN’s) and registered nurses (RN’s). “What we typically look for in a candidate is communication with us throughout the whole process and for a candidate to be honest and upfront about what they’re looking for as well,” Hollinger said.

Hudson Health Services was also present at the event with a few representatives so that they may inform the graduating students about what they are looking for in potential applicants. Position wise, they are looking for nurses and behavioral health aides. The Director of Nursing Sherra Brown said, “For a nursing candidate I look for the experience. I look for someone who is dependable, someone who’s reliable. Someone who has compassion and empathy for the patients we are treating.”