When Joshua Gaubatz was informed about “Ask the Experts” from Outreach Coordinator Steve Ford, he jumped at the opportunity to attend. Gaubatz felt that it was a great opportunity since attendees could speak to representatives from various companies. He further stated that events such as this one provide insight into the skill-sets companies are seeking.

Since most companies desire candidates to have industry experience or a degree in the field, Gaubatz was interested in finding out what companies are looking for so that he would appear more marketable. There were representatives on hand from companies such as Bright House Networks and Wells Fargo Bank to answer questions and offer advice. Attendees were informed about the background of various companies and were notified about the skill-sets that were desirable to employers.  Tips about writing resumes and job interview etiquette were also offered.

Gaubatz felt that attending the event was a rewarding experience since he was able to learn about the interviewing process, soft-skills and how to be more presentable to employers. He also mentioned that it is important to “sell yourself” to the employer. Since the event, he met with an advisor in the Career Center, Rose Mackey, with whom he reviewed his resume’. Mackey helped him with the structure of the resume’ and highlighted that the contents of the resume’ should let the employer know what they are getting in a potential candidate. She suggested that he look up job titles and tasks and include those skill- sets in the resume’. Additionally, the 3-month internship he served at Net Wolves was a plus, since he was able to work with Senior Technicians and Engineers to gain experience. He is currently in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) program for Technology Management at St. Petersburg College and hopes to finish next year. Though a challenge, he has managed to juggle working full-time, go to school and successfully complete his internship.