Whether you are certain or undecided in your major, add the Career Fair on Oct. 16 to your calendar. This event is an excellent way to discover the different career opportunities available in your community.
While attending a career fair can be intimidating, students should not shy away from the experience of networking and getting their foot in the door.
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“[The Career Fair] is an opportunity for students to network with employers from the corporate and non-profit setting to talk to them about opportunities that they might have within their organization for things like co-op internships or even career employment possibilities,” said Carleen Beckermann, assistant director and career counselor at the Career Center.
With 64 companies attending from the private and non-profit sector, including recruiters from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Career Fair will offer a wide variety of employers that are open to students of any major.
“Sometimes internships can lead to full-time employment; many times, employers will use that as a [form of] extended job interview to observe how you behave in the workplace,” Beckermann added. “When a full-time position becomes available, employers will often look to people who have done co-ops or internships with their organization because they are a known commodity at that point.”
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To help prepare them to impress employers and recruiters, students can find a list of the companies attending the Career Fair through their Handshake account.
“The number one thing that [students] can do is research the company; know what types of positions they have available and how their skill set fits into what the company needs,” said Beckermann.
At events like these, first impressions are vital. That is why the Career Center and Student Activities partnered with JCPenney for the JCPenney Suit Up Event, which offers Wright State students 40% off of career dress apparel. How you present yourself through professional appearance can make or break a career or internship.
Whether you leave this event feeling confident or doubtful, know that the path to success is not all daisies and butterflies; there will be a mixture of both accomplishments and failures along the way. What is important is that you attended and gained the experience and knowledge to prepare yourself for next time.
