Series of events July 15 through July 19 to help local students and job seekers get job ready

Buffalo, NY, July 01, 2013 – Bryant & Stratton College today announced it will host Employability Week from July 15 to July 19, a series of events to help students and job seekers get job ready. Events planned on the College’s three Western New York campuses will bring together students, new graduates, job seekers and local business leaders for many career-focused activities. The highlight of the week will be the “Job Ready or Not?” Employability Summit, a live event with top U.S. employers aimed at helping close the perception gap between what job seekers think employers want and what employers really value in candidates.

The “Job Ready or Not?” event will include a panel of speakers from CareerBuilder, Enterprise, Humana, Marriott Hotels and Microsoft, who will give attendees a look into the mind of an employer and offer advice on how to be successful in today’s tough job market. The event will be streamed live online from the College’s campus in Orchard Park on Friday, July 19 at 1 p.m. Those interested in joining in-person should call (716) 860-4799 to register. Those wishing to watch the event live online can register at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/employability-summit.

On Thursday, July 18, a career fair will host area job seekers and 40-50 local companies and organizations with open positions and volunteer opportunities. Attendees will be able to connect with employers and get career advice from College experts, as well as enter to win an iPad® *. The career fair will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 18 at the Buffalo Campus at 465 Main Street, 4th floor.

To prepare for the career fair, attendees are encouraged to attend the free Employability Clinics on Wednesday, July 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the College’s campuses in Amherst, Buffalo and Orchard Park. Attendees can get free career advice from College experts, have their resumes reviewed, receive a personalized “Dress for Success” consultation and enter a raffle to win a $200 gift certificate for professional attire. Free career readiness coaching sessions will cover resume and cover letter writing, job interviews, using LinkedIn, managing your online reputation and negotiating your salary.

Employability Week events and the “Job Ready or Not?” Employability Summit are aimed at helping close the perception gap between how job seekers view their own employability and what employers value. According to a new survey from Bryant & Stratton College’s Online Education Division and Wakefield Research, 80 percent of 18-34 year olds feel they are job ready and possess all the skills, experience, and education needed to advance in their desired career path or obtain their next job. Comparatively, data released by global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company found almost 40 percent of employers attribute the main reason for job openings to lack of skills among entry-level applicants. The research indicates that college students and young employees have inflated assumptions about their own career readiness in today’s job market.

“Being a viable candidate in today’s job market takes an understanding of what employers want, a firm grasp on how to present your skills and access to quality career resources. Employability Week touches on all of these tenets so our students and other job seekers can feel job ready,” said Paul Bahr, Director of the Western New York Campuses of Bryant & Stratton College. “Our core mission at Bryant & Stratton College has always been to provide students the training and education they will need to be successful in their careers. Employability Week is an opportunity to do that for our students as well as the greater Western New York community.”

Employability Week Events:

Date: Tuesday, July 16
Event: Portfolio Development Day for Bryant & Stratton College students (private event)
Time: all day
Location: At local Western New York Campuses

Date: Wednesday, July 17
Event: Employability Clinics
Time: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Career Readiness Coaching Sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location #1: Amherst Campus, 3650 Millersport Highway, Getzville, NY 14068
Location #2: Buffalo Campus, 465 Main Street, 4th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Location #3: Southtowns Campus, 200 Redtail Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Date: Thursday, July 18
Event: Career Fair
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Buffalo Campus, 465 Main Street, 4th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203

Date: Friday, July 19
Event: “Job Ready or Not?” Employability Summit
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m
Location: 200 Redtail Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Register to join-in person by calling (716) 860-4799 or register to watch online at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/employability-summit.

To learn more about the Employability Week events at Bryant & Stratton College campuses in Amherst, Buffalo and Orchard Park, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/466778813416629/.

These events are part of the Bryant & Stratton College Employability Series, an ongoing effort dedicated to helping students become career-ready upon graduation. By focusing on the development of employable skills, the College purposefully helps students develop technical, industry-specific knowledge as well as soft skills. To learn more about Bryant & Stratton College, its degree programs and the Employability Series, go to http://www.bryantstratton.edu. Bryant & Stratton College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

*An iPad or comparable device will be available.

About Bryant & Stratton College;
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment. The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For almost 160 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees and professional certificates in the fields of healthcare, technology, legal, business, & graphic design. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures. General information can also be found on the College’s website at http://www.bryantstratton.edu.

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