2009 St. Louis Interview Day Highlights

Holiday Inn Southwest Viking Conference Center was brimming with activity on September 24-25 as the location for St. Louis Interview Days 2009. This event sponsored by the Harrison College of Business connected 57 enthusiastic, bright Harrison business students with representatives from 19 companies looking for future employees or students to fill internships.

On Thursday evening, an informal reception was held where company representatives were able to pre-screen and meet with students prior to the formal interview process on Friday. Students were able not only to network, but were also successful in scheduling some additional Friday interviews. Over 230 first-time interviews were conducted on Friday. Students are already getting call-backs and participating in follow-up and second interviews, proving that even during a down economy, companies hire Harrison business students.

Individual booths with interviewing tables were available on Friday for each company to conduct their interviews with several companies utilizing two booths to better accommodate the large number of students they wanted to interview. The Harrison College of Business team was instrumental in keeping the ball rolling by escorting students to their scheduled interviews at each booth. The university’s photographer was there to capture all the excitement, and was able to videotape some testimonials for a promotional video clip for next year.

Internships were in high demand this year and are a win-win for companies and students. It provides a company an opportunity to gain valuable extra help, plus allows a company to “try out” individuals before extending a job offer. Students gain valuable “real life” work experience in their major, and hopefully a job offer when one becomes available.

Each year we enjoy renewing acquaintances with former students who were past participants in this event, and are back as company representatives. We couldn’t be prouder of our students and their successes.

Listed below are just some of the many comments by company representatives:

I thought the candidate pool was above average this year. You did a great job as usual.

Done very well. Keep up the good work. I can't imagine why more businesses don't take advantage.

Everything was wonderful. Thanks!

All was fantastic. We sincerely appreciate the inclusion and hard work that went into preparing such a worthwhile event.

Super happy! Thank you for an awesome day!

I really appreciate the STL location. I think it proves for a better turn out of employers.

Students comments included:

Very valuable experience.

Everything was great, wouldn't change a thing.

St. Louis Interview Days was a wonderful opportunity that is not available at many other schools. I thought the event was well-organized and very beneficial.

I enjoyed meeting with all the employers.

It was an exhausting day but it was a good experience to participate in.

A big thank you to the companies that participated this year:

Anders Minkler & Diehl

BKD, LLP

C. H. Robinson Worldwide

Cintas Corporation

Colliers Turley Martin Tucker

Defense Contract Audit Agency

Edward Jones

Enterprise Holdings

Federated Insurance

Gateway EDI, Inc.

Grimco

KPMG, LLP

Maxim Healthcare Services

MPP & W, P.C.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

RubinBrown, LLP

Swank Motion Pictures, Inc.

U.S. Bank

Wells Fargo Financial

This was the seventh St. Louis Interview Days sponsored by the Harrison College of Business, and it has been instrumental in helping students start their career path after completion of their studies. The Holiday Inn Southwest Viking Conference Center has already been booked for fall 2010, so mark September 23-24 on your recruiting calendar to attend next year’s exciting event.