Do you want to work for The Man?

More than 70 employers from federal, state and municipal governments will present job opportunities as part of the Public Service Career Showcase in the SUB Ballrooms on Wednesday, said Mary Montano, Career Services event coordinator.

President David Schmidly encouraged students to attend the fair in his Monday-morning message Oct. 2. He said UNM is part of a small group of schools selected to have the showcase.

“UNM is one of only five campuses in the country that the Office of Personal Management has given funding for federal career days in 2009,” he said in the e-mail. “This is a great opportunity to see what’s out there when it comes to jobs in this sector.”

Montano said governmental positions are ideal for students because of job security and flexible schedules.

“The federal employers work life-balance into the workplace,” she said. “Even if you are working a 70 hour work week, it provides a family friendly kind of structure.”
The showcase is an excellent place for students to meet prospective employers and possibly even be hired on the spot, Montano said.

“This is one event where there are actual connections for employment,” she said. “Some of the recruiters will be making job offers at this event.”

New Mexico Department of Health spokesman Chris Minnick said the public service field helps students develop professionally after they graduate from college.

“It is a good learning environment for graduates because federal agencies are pretty vast, and there is a lot of room for growth when you are just starting your career,” he said. “Government agencies are usually pretty extensive in the kind of services they provide to the public, so there are a lot of positions to fill.”

Aside from personal benefits, Minnick said students should consider a public service occupation because it is a gratifying career.

“It’s a great way to not only make a living but to give back to your community,” he said. “It’s a very rewarding job, because in public services your main goal is to help people.”

*Public Service Career Showcase
Wednesday
SUB Ballrooms
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.*