UNG Hosting Virtual Career Fair, Coronavirus Town Hall Tuesday

DAHLONEGA, GA — The University of North Georgia will host two virtual meetings Tuesday to help the students find jobs, and to help answer questions regarding the coronavirus.

University of North Georgia students will have the opportunity to chat with potential employers from the comfort of their own home Tuesday through a virtual platform.

Hosted by University of North Georgia's Career Services, the career fair will be conducted through an app, in place of the traditional career fair that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can download the Career Fairs Plus app now to see the employers registered to attend. Recruiters will supply times available for interviews, and students can choose the employers they wish to meet.

Students may schedule a 15-minute time slot with a recruiter between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., which gives them most of the day to connect. Meetings can be held via phone, Skype, or Google Hangouts, to name a few options. It should be noted that these meetings are not interviews, but rather a chance to speak with employers about potential internship or employment opportunities with their companies.

Olivia Reeves, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in human services delivery and administration, hopes to connect with local organizations during the online Career Fair.

"I'm hoping to see some organizations in the human services field that I could connect with for a placement while I'm a student, since I'm not graduating until December," she said. "In my class, we brainstorm ways to interview in the field, so I'm reviewing previous class work to make sure I'm ready for any questions."

To prepare for a potential interview, students can schedule a mock interview by going to the Career Services homepage and scrolling down to the "Schedule an Appointment" tab.

Steve Wanders, assistant director of Career Services, wants students to take advantage of these opportunities and provides some tips for success.

“Students should still do all of the things they would do for a traditional in-person fair, such as researching the employers, polishing the resume, preparing a strong pitch, dressing professionally, and following up with a thank you note,” he said. “Remember that for the virtual fair, you will have appointments at specified times and you must be ready to take a call or jump on a video chat at the designated time and not be late.”

Tara Bailey, administrative assistant for Career Services, emailed students April 27 with additional steps to prepare for success at the virtual career fair. Some tips include:

• Keep a pen and pad of paper nearby to write down contact information, important details and instructions to follow up after the virtual career fair.
• Prepare your technology — be sure to test your camera, microphone and speakers.
• Ensure you use professional business communication. Many virtual fairs are similar to an online discussion and you will chat with employers as your first contact. Be sure to check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation before you submit your response. This is no time for informal chats or texting language.

Interested students may find instructions for scheduling appointments with recruiters via Handshake.

As COVID-19 continues to alter the daily lives of northeast Georgians, those most at-risk from the disease, people older than 65, seek clarity as information and guidance changes frequently.

To provide clear and concise answers, the University of North Georgia's Center for Healthy Aging will host a virtual town hall meeting at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The university will conduct the hour-long meeting in a question-and-answer format for seniors, their caretakers and other health care professionals.

"People need to feel like they are not alone and need to know they aren't the only ones out there with questions," said Dr. Pamela Elfenbein, director of the Center for Healthy Aging. "We are all in this together."

Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, said the Center for Healthy Aging is the ideal agency to coordinate this effort.

"We have the network of partners in government, nonprofits and community organizations to bring together service providers, policy makers and constituents," she said. "And the university has the resources and expertise to offer the town hall forum."

Gille explained UNG's Center for Healthy Aging sponsored an in-person forum on "Disrupting Aging" earlier this year, and it was very successful.

"We hope this virtual town hall will generate a similar level of interest and strengthen communication and partnerships in our community," she said.

Elfenbein proposed the town hall to the Center for Healthy Aging's board of directors after witnessing the impact of a pair of UNG virtual meetings. UNG President Bonita Jacobs has conducted digital sessions for faculty and staff about COVID-19 and its effects on the university.

"It was nice to see Dr. Jacobs and hear her words of encouragement," Elfenbein said. "It made me feel connected."

The professor of sociology and human services at UNG explained many older adults who stay physically and mentally active at senior citizens' centers are prohibited from going to those places in the current climate. Others who receive food and visits from volunteers through nonprofit organizations are sequestered at home. Clients in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes are isolated because visitors are prohibited.

"All of these supportive services are closed currently, and that population is wondering what to do," Elfenbein said. "We will field those questions for those constituents."

A trio of experts will be on hand to provide the answers. They are Abigail Cox, director of the state Division of Aging Services in the Department of Human Services; Pat Freeman, CEO of Legacy Link, Area Agency on Aging; and Pam Clayton, vice president of quality advancement and regulatory affairs for the Georgia Health Care Association.

This virtual town hall is geared toward the aging community, their caretakers and their healthcare workers, Elfenbein said. Some predetermined questions include:

• What services are still being provided?
• How have the Area Agencies on Aging across Georgia adapted to serve older adults?
• How will the services transition from social distancing back to full capacity?
• What will the new normal look like?
• What advice and guidelines are you sharing with older adults and their family caregivers?
• What are the numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of older adults in Georgia?

Questions can also be submitted from the public in advance or during the event by emailing healthyaging@ung.edu.

Elfenbein said meeting's final five minutes will feature self-care tips.

"I think the public and especially our target audience want to know when they can return to the places the frequented in the past. They also want to know when they can have a social gathering," she said, adding many want to know the answer to the same question. "The meeting will also be open to the public, health care and social service providers, and the UNG community."