Students brought résumés for representatives of 186 companies at Notre Dame's fall career fair Wednesday in the Joyce Athletics and Convocation Center (JACC).
Though students say the fair appears geared toward business majors, Lee Svete, director of the Career Center and an organizer of the fair, said all students could benefit from the variety of companies represented.
"There is actually quite a bit of the marketing area represented here tonight, which is a career suitable for any major," Svete said. "General Mills, Target [and] even Abercrombie and Fitch from the corporate levels are here. These are the people responsible for branding and such. These are creative opportunities."
Until 2001, Svete said, the fair was "only associated with the Mendoza College of Business. It was even held in the Mendoza building. Moving it to the JACC has opened up the scene for underclassmen as well as a variety of other majors."
Still, Svete said, many of the companies present offered opportunities geared toward finance and accounting majors.
There were also opportunities for engineering majors to contact companies including Nestle Waters and Chevron.
Though Svete is proud of the fall fair, he said, the second career fair, held in January, will be "less business driven."
Saint Mary's junior and finance major Erika Lowe was prepared for the large number of companies present at the fair. She had done research and was ready to talk to possible future employers.
"It is a little bit intimidating, but you just have to get in there and talk to people. You can't hold back on opportunities like this," she said.
Off-campus senior Brian Ronan, also a finance major, targeted representatives from investment banks and consulting firms. Going into the fair, he was not partial to any company but decided to scout firms in attendance.
The fair was once geared primarily toward seniors looking for careers but has evolved into something accessible for sophomores and juniors looking for internships as well, Svete said.
Svete said students have arranged between 600 and 800 interviews for Thursday with companies present.
Notre Dame alumna Molly Hogan recruited for M&I Bank at the fair.
"Researching companies well enough and dressing for the roles they wish to have is something that is extremely important," she said.
