PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — In just two months, graduates of Northern Maine Community College will leave the classroom for the last time and enter a world where a depressed economy is still recovering and too many people are competing for not enough good jobs.
College officials are hoping to give graduates a leg up with a number of activities slated to help them look their best and get jobs.
The college is holding Senior Makeover Day from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, March, 3. The event is held every other year and is open to any student looking to get a professional makeover in anticipation of landing a job.
The event serves as the first of three events on campus geared toward career readiness.
Stylists from The Total Look and Oasis Salons are donating their services to offer students free haircuts and styling. Attendees can also get makeup tips, professional clothing fittings and even sign up for gift card giveaways. The event will take place in the Edmunds Conference Center at NMCC.
“The goal of the event is to help students make a great first impression,” said Shelli Cronkhite, counselor in the NMCC student support services office and coordinator of the makeover event. “It is truly a pick me up for students. They are able to get a fresh new look while also receiving advice to help them transition from student to working professional.”
The nonprofit Northeast Society for Human Resource Management has donated $250 worth of gift cards that will be given away to students for them to purchase professional attire. Faculty, staff and community members also have donated a collection of gently used professional clothing for students to take with them for interviews.
Cronkhite said recently that she has seen tremendous support from the community for the event.
“This event is possible in large part to the local professionals who are willing to volunteer their services for our students,” she said.
During the event, students also can take advantage of interview tips and techniques as well as reviews of their resumes from area human resource professionals.
That evening, NMCC’s food service provider, Aramark, is offering an etiquette dinner at 5 p.m. in the Reed Dining Commons.
The dinner will feature a four course meal and presentation called “Mastering the Meal Interview.” It is scheduled to help prepare students to make their best impression during a job interview conducted over a meal.
The third event will be a job fair, the largest one in Aroostook County. It will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. March 10. More than 50 area businesses seeking potential future employees will be represented at the 14th annual fair.
The majority of the businesses are located in Maine, but a few come from other parts of New England.
Ruth White, regional director of the Early College for ME program, cautioned job seekers not to think that there are no jobs out there just because of the economy. She said that businesses that will be represented at the job fair are looking to expand their work force by hiring County employees.
The event is open not just to students, but to residents as well.
She said that there will be a handful of new businesses appearing for the first time at the NMCC job fair. The majority of the participating businesses are anticipating hiring employees within the year.
Attendees are encouraged to bring resumes to submit and there will be a place where employers can conduct interviews.