On-Campus Recruiting: Kick-Start Your Career Without Leaving Campus

By: Kiara Mauro ('15), Student Affairs Technical Services

Do you have plans for starting your career after college? Are you looking for advice about internships or jobs? If so, Career and Academic Planning (CAP) can provide you with guidance and support on a variety of topics; from choosing a major and/or career path, to connecting with potential employers. For students preparing to enter the workforce, CAP's "Recruit-A-Duke" program offers a unique opportunity to participate in on-campus recruiting. This service provides students with information about companies, offers career advice, and facilitates the interview process by bringing job recruiters onto JMU's campus.

During the academic year many companies come to JMU to host information sessions, participate in career fairs, and interview with potential candidates. The companies represent a wide range of industries and are looking for students from a variety of majors. Denise Rudolph, CAP's Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Recruiting, believes these campus visits benefit both employers and students. She states, "From an employer's perspective, companies are trying to build relationships with students and create as many touch points as possible through interactions at recruiting events. These interactions help students make more informed decisions about potential employers while providing employers with the opportunity to get to know potential job candidates. They also provide a means for students to gather career advice and feedback from a variety of sources."

The convenience of meeting with potential employers without having to travel during the school year is a big benefit to JMU students looking for jobs or internships. Senior accounting major Connor Arnone had a positive experience interviewing with companies starting in his junior year. He reports, "CAP aided me in receiving an internship for the summer of 2014, which in turn, landed me a job offer." By taking advantage of the services offered through Recruit-A-Duke, Connor made a successful transition from college to the workforce without even stepping foot off of JMU’s campus.

Austin Ford, senior WRTC major credits Recruit-A-Duke with helping him receive two job offers from reputable companies. In his experience, this service was an important starting point for his job search.

"Recruit-A-Duke and on-campus recruiting make students' lives so much easier," Ford says. "Don't get me wrong, a lot of work needs to be put forth in order to make a lasting impression on companies, but these two programs really help to get the process started. If you didn't know where to look for a job, now you do. Recruit-A-Duke has listings for companies recruiting specifically from James Madison University."

Career & Academic Planning is committed to helping students transition out of college and into a career. If you would like to participate in on-campus recruiting the first step is to get an account on Recruit-A-Duke. Sign up at www.jmu.edu/cap/recruitaduke to gain access to over 1,000 internship and job postings, and apply for positions online. Good luck in your search!