By Victoria Cruz
Contributor
This week, the Office of Career and Professional Development hosted its semi-annual job fairs.
Each fair took place in the Adanti Student Center ballrooms on Feb. 26 and 27, representing dozens of local employers to provide students with opportunities to connect with potential career opportunities.
“This is a good opportunity for students to gain job opportunities on campus, and the career services do such a good job integrating many employers around Connecticut to give those job opportunities,” nursing major Megan Campbell, a senior, who was a volunteer said.
The first fair was held on Feb. 26, which catered to students in Business, STEM and Manufacturing in Ballroom A.
Ballroom B, served the Communication, Marketing, Media and Arts professionals while Thursday’s session served Healthcare and Public Health in Ballroom A in the early afternoon.
Then later in the afternoon it shifted to Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and counseling in Ballroom B.
Carla Miliano, a senior English major and representative of one of the employers at the fair expressed her excitement for the event.
“I love seeing all the students looking for new opportunities for the future and being able to provide those opportunities” Milano said.
The Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) assists students and alumni daily with their various career services, including resume building, interview preparation and various other coaching. They host these Career and Internship Industry Fairs every semester.
Jonell Baily, a graduate intern at the office highlights the goal for these events.
“The office of career services is very excited to help students with their career and professional development and allow them to be successful in the real work world,” Baily said. “The mission for the fair is to connect students within different industries of Southern and get successful jobs.”
For many students it was their first time attending a job fair.
English major Cooper Allen, a junior, admitted to feeling nervous but excited for the event.
“It was my first ever job fair, and I was scared but it has actually been a very positive experience,” Allen said. “Everybody has been very positive and they are actively looking to hire.”
English and psychology major Judas Brown, a junior, described the atmosphere as “very electric” and noted the strong turnout.
“It’s so busy in here, I definitely I plan on going to the one tomorrow, there’s a lot of things to look forward to,” Brown said.
The Office of Career and Professional Development continues to demonstrate the university’s commitment to student and alumni career support services.
The wide range of industries represented allows the university community the opportunity to put their best foot forward, eliciting enthusiastic participation from students.
The Career and Internship and Industry Fairs will continue to be a crucial resource in supporting students as they navigate their professional journeys.
