EHE News
No playing around when employers, job seekers meet at the Schott
The Jump Start recruitment team at the 2010 Sport and Recreation Job Fair on Jan. 29 in the Schottenstein Center includes alumnus Aaron Bally, left, '07 human nutrition, and Cheryl Dieter, right, a Central State graduate, both hired by director Rick Hart at last year's job fair.
Jump Start Sports was getting an early start in hiring camp counselors, program directors and coaches for the upcoming season by attending the Sport and Recreation Job Fair on January 29 in the Schottenstein Center.
One Jump Start recruiter, however, had particular insight into what the company looks for in applicants. Aaron Bally, a 2007 human nutrition graduate, had been hired by Rick Hart, Jump Start creator and director, after the 2009 job fair. He now is area manager for the Columbus district.
Jump Start, which works with rec centers throughout Northeast and Central Ohio to run sports camps and programs for children, also hired Cheryl Dieter after meeting her at the 2009 event. A graduate of Central State University, she directs the company's program operations. This summer, Jump Start needs even more help in opening an additional four centers in Delaware, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna and Centerburg.
The College of Education and Human Ecology hosts the unusual job fair, which in its second year already attracts a wide range of employers.
At the Schottenstein Center, tables lined the northern side of the concourse as employers set up their stations in search of interns, part-time seasonal workers and an occasional full-time employee.
Seasonal jobs can morph into fulltime work
Marci Guckeyson, who represented the university's Recreation and Physical Activity Center Summer Community Program, was seeking 40 employees for the camps. RPAC Community Programs host about 180 children a day, so many helpers are needed. The positions available included leadership and counselor jobs. As an incentive for applying, Guckeyson said, seasonal positions can become year-round.
Worthington Parks and Recreation Department also had three recruiters on hand, Matthew Burns, Mike Burgedorfer and Melissa Hindman. At the job fair last year, the department hired two students for part-time summer positions. This year, the team was especially interested in instructors who could create a class or lesson program for the summer season.
The city of Gahanna was represented by Laura Hester and Robin Rupp-Mondak, who both are graduates of The Ohio State University. Gahanna was looking to hire about 100 employees for aquatic programs and the parks and recreation department, and counselors and managers for its summer day camp program.
Also on site were Ohio-based professional sports teams. The Columbus Blue Jackets, a franchise that employs several Ohio State alumni, were represented by Drew Ribarchak, who sought 10 interns for the summer session. From June- August, they will deal with various aspects of running a professional hockey team.
Columbus Crew recruiters Amanda Baltzley and Tommy Hampton were meeting with candidates to fill the professional soccer team's unpaid summer intern positions. The Crew usually takes on about 18-20 interns a summer, mostly Ohio State students. Interns deal mainly with promotional aspect of the team. They are required to work all home games and weekday special events. The season begins at the end of March and could run until mid-November if the team enters the playoffs. Interns may not be paid, but they receive Crew gear to wear at games and events.
Professional teams fill internships, permanent positions
The Cleveland Cavaliers Holdings, LLC, recruiters were familiar with the Sports and Rec Job Fair and were filling full-time positions. Bob Sivik of the Cavaliers and Jeff Bowler of the Lake Erie Monsters were hoping to find a Web center manager and some sales personnel.
Across the hall was their colleague, Stacey Brown-Walker, who was seeking interns for the Cavaliers and the Monsters. She was looking to hire six or seven interns for the summer season.
With the number of employers and opportunities came a wide variety of candidates. Michael Carnahan, a fourth- year sport and leisure studies major at Ohio State, was very interested in talking to several employers. "I will be looking to stop by the Blue Jackets, the Cavs and OSU Athletics," said Carnahan.
Even non-Ohio State students attended. Kayla Thomko made the two and one-half hour drive from Berea, Ohio. "I'm graduating this spring and so I am looking to find a part-time or full-time job," she said. Thomko is a fourth-year sport management major at Baldwin-Wallace College. The employers that interested her were Jump Start Sports, Sports Time Ohio and the Cavs.
Alumni also were attracted to the event. Greg Faller graduated this past winter from Ohio State with his bachelor's degree in sport and leisure studies. "I currently live in Columbus, so I would like to stay here and get a job more focused toward my degree," Faller said. He was interested in positions with Sports Time Ohio, Jump Start Sports, the Cavs or the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"Overall, the Sport and Recreation Job Fair was a success," said Jean Wyer, director of Career Services for the college. "We can look forward to its growth in the upcoming year."
Writer: Sara Lynch, OSU senior and student assistant, Education and Human Ecology Academic Affairs Office
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