An annual tradition of connecting employers with job seekers looking for work in the growing “green” job market will once again take place at Unity College. On Wednesday, February 12, Unity College Career Services will host the most extensive environmentally focused career fair to take place in Maine this year, in the Tozier Gymnasium on the Unity campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be a virtual component to the career fair, with a number of employers communicating with prospective employees by Skype.  Businesses that cannot attend but wish to participate by Skype may contact Career Services at 207-948-9213.

The environmental career recruitment event is free and open to the general public, though focused on recruitment of recent or anticipated college graduates from across New England.  Sponsored by the Unity College Career Resource Center, the event is expected to attract over 75 employers.

“Our annual environmental career fair consistently generates exceptional interest from potential employers,” noted Nicole Collins ’00, Unity College Career Consultant & Internship Coordinator. “Participants will have the opportunity to seek professional advice, make valuable professional connections, locate internships, refine their job search, and in some cases make the right connection leading to a professional opportunity.”

Employers will offer a variety of presentations and career related materials, including equipment, applications, videos and personal testimonials from Unity College alumni in the field. A K9 Unit from the Old Orchard Beach Police Department will be on hand.

Given the growing popularity of the “green” job marketplace, Collins anticipates that career changers will attend the event.

Another aspect of the career fair is its role in helping current students connect with internship opportunities.

“Internships are essential for young professionals seeking to enter the workforce,” noted Collins.

“Unity College students typically build their careers during their college years through hands on internships and experiential learning,” Collins said. “Unity students have pursued internships in all 50 states and 20 foreign countries.”

Unity students apply the knowledge of sustainability science to solve some of the most pressing global environmental problems, including mitigating global climate change.

“Unity College graduates possess the strong critical thinking and problem solving skills needed by green industry employers, for these reasons they are highly marketable,” noted Collins.

In recent years Unity College has gained national attention for a variety of achievements including for its focus on sustainability science, the leading-edge of 21st century ecological problem solving and the vanguard in the fight for the mitigation of global climate change; its ground-breaking green innovations such as the award-winning TerraHaus, the first student residence on a college or university campus built to the Passive House standard, the most energy efficient building standard in the world; and being the first college in the United States to divest from investments in fossil fuels, igniting a growing national movement in higher education.

Thursday, January 23, 2014