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Engineering Fair continues in job-hunting tradition
By Trish Anzek
The 18th annual Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair will bring students together with potential employers.The fair will be held from 1-6 p.m. Sept.18 in the Kansas Union ballroom.Most students at the fair
are seniors and graduate students looking for full-time jobs. Underclassmen will also attend to learn what types of jobs are available. Representatives from more than 60 companies will attend the fair to discuss job opportunities with students.
The fair is sponsored by the Career Services Center in the School of Engineering. The center helps students look for internships and full-time jobs Sam Bona, graduate student in Mechanical Engineering, says the placement center for the
School of Engineering helps students prepare for jobs by providing classes on how to write cover letters, resumes and thank you letters. Bona also says the placement center provides mock interviews to help students prepare for real life situations.
Employment at record high, say state authorities
Bv Lew Ferguson
Associated Press Writer
TOPEKA, Kan. AP) — Human Resources Secretary Wayne Franklin's second "State of Labor" report to the people of Kansas, released Thursday, painted a rosy picture of the state's employment and economic status. Citing record employment, strong business growth and cooperation among state agencies to promote economic development and train workers, Franklin said the state is in good shape as its citizens pause this weekend to observe Labor Day 1996.
"We are seeing lots of gains in the service and trade industries and retail trade is seeing steady growth, contributing in part to increases in entertainment and eating establishments," the secretary said. "We think this is good for our state."
He said the state's population is growing older, expanding the health care industry, too.
Overall, he said, "We feel this trend will continue. It's a good prognosis for our state."
The agency's optimistic report came in sharp contrast to a mediocre rating the Corporation for Enterprise Development, a Washington-based group, gave Kansas in its annual report, discussed Wednesday by a legislative committee.
Franklin said he believes that group's ratings are based on old information, and doesn't reflect what has occurred in the state in the past year or so.
Bill Layes, chief of labor market information for the Human Resources Department said,"I'd say we're experiencing continued, steady growth."
Frankdin and Layes cited the opening a new Cessna aircraft plant in Independence, addition of upwards of 5,000 jobs in the aircraft industry in Wichita and numerous smaller expansions elsewhere as evidence that Kansas' economy is doing well.
"There is a real labor shortage in the Wichita area," Franklin said, noting the aircraft industry is having to recruit workers from outside Kansas to meet the job demand.
They also cited the record 1.32 million jobs the state now has, and an average 4.1 percent unemployment rate during the first seven months of 1996 - compared with a 5.5 percent national average.
They noted July's state jobless rate of 3.9 percent was the lowest in a decade.
The state has added 31,000 jobs in the past year alone.
"Even though there are pockets of higher unemployment, our rate is extremely low and our employment is at a record high," Franklin said.
Layes said the average weekly hours Kansans work also are up, indicating businesses and industries are booming and need their employees to work overtime
— another sign, he said, of economic growth.
Play It Again does it again for young and old
Many KU students have discovered that participating in sports can be more fun than running laps in a high-school gym class. However,. they have also found that the equipment for popular sports, such as inline skating and skiing, can be expensive.
Play It Again Sports, located at 1029 Massachusetts St., offers a wide range of new and used sports equipment and sports related merchandise. The store specializes in stringing rackets and replacing the grips on golf clubs, as well as a full service center for in-line skates.
"Almost every KU student is interested in sports, and it is cheaper for students to buy used equipment because it is usually not more than half the regular price," said Johnathan Coachman, the floor manager at Play It Again Sports does not have to make much of an effort to attract younger buyers.
"We don't really have sell to students because they need something eventually and know that it is cheaper used," he said.
However, customers can sign up on the store's mailing list to receive information about products and services.
Story by Melody Ard • Photos by Pam Dishman
Left:Kit Carson, Lawrence resident, gets advice on which golf clubs to buy from Play It Again Sports employee Josh Hoover. Below: Josh Hoover (left) and Grady Hawley, Play It Again Sports employees, show off some of the store's fares.
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