More than 100 companies attended University Career Services’ annual Fall Career and Internship Fair in Taffner Field House on Thursday, Sept. 28. St. John’s students were able to speak with the wide array of companies about internships as well as full-time positions upon graduation.
The fair is an opportunity for students to network with potential employers and make connections that could lead to professional opportunities in the future, whether it be next semester or after they have finished their studies at St. John’s.
Companies at the Career Fair represented a multitude of different industries and included organizations such as CBS News, New York Life Insurance and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Recruiters from several branches of the military also spoke with students about service and enlistment. Representatives from St. John’s Graduate Admissions were on hand to promote the many different graduate programs the university has to offer once students have completed their Bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, professional photographers were available to help students take free headshots for their LinkedIn profiles.
The Career Fair has proven to be a successful platform for students to begin their careers, according to some students.
Addie Ancona, a recruiter for Discovery Communications, is a St. John’s alumna who landed an internship at the Career Fair while she was a student. Her internship eventually led to a full-time position with Discovery, she said.
At the fair, Ancona emphasized the importance of showing employers that you are dedicated to finding an internship. “Make yourself as visible as possible. Showing up to the Career Fair shows us that you are a proactive student, and that is the kind of stuff that we like to see,” she said.
University Career Services urged students to increase their networking opportunities by displaying their new partnership with Handshake. This website allows St. John’s students to connect with potential employers and find internships as well as part-time and full-time job opportunities targeted towards their specific majors and goals.
Even if students walk away without any job offers, Career Peer and president of Student Government Inc. Frank Obermeyer insisted that making industry connections is the most important benefit of the Career Fair.
“I think that what students really miss is that this is a huge networking event,” Obermeyer said. “If you build that relationship with employers early, it is a great conversation starter and you’re setting yourself up for success when you do that.”
The Spring Career Fair will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15. University Career Services will also hold a series of workshops, such as the Law School Insider on Oct. 2, to inform students of their options for life after college.
