The annual Saint Mary’s Career and Internship Fair was held Wednesday at the Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex on Wednesday from 4:30-7 p.m.
Last year the fair was held in the Student Center but Stacie Jeffirs, the Saint Mary’s Career Crossings director, said in an email that she was excited to move into a bigger venue.
“We are excited because we are hosting this year’s career and internship in the newly-renovated Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex,” Jeffirs said. “This venue allows for more space to host more organizations and for all of our organizations to be in the same location versus spread out through the Student Center. We have some new organizations that are participating this year, and there will be opportunities for students from all majors. We are also looking forward to having some of our Saint Mary’s alumnae back on campus recruiting with their organizations including the Orr Fellows, Emarsys and others.”
The Saint Mary’s career fair is small but growing annually with nearly 50 organizations this year offering full-time jobs, part-time jobs, internships, community service and graduate programs for a variety of majors.
Sarah Enck, assistant director of the Saint Mary’s Career Crossings Office, said she thinks it is important for everyone to attend the career fair.
“I think the importance of students attending the Career and Internship Fair depends on their goal,” Enck said.“For seniors, it may be to find a job or other opportunity after graduation. Sophomores and juniors may be looking for summer internships. We encourage freshman students to attend if they are interested, to get a head start on how to navigate career fairs. Whatever the goal is, I think it is important for students to learn about the various companies and organizations that they may have not thought of before and learn about different opportunities that could be available to them. I also think it’s important for students to practice their networking and professional interpersonal skills early so they can feel prepared for interviews and confident moving into the workplace.”
To prepare for any of these goals, the College also provides a free workshop before the career fair. The workshop helps students research companies attending the fair, develop introduction strategies, create resumes and, ultimately, get jobs. Enck said that she often sees students have success with obtaining jobs.
“The Career and Internship Fair is a great avenue for students to obtain internships and jobs,” Enck said. “The fair provides an opportunity for students to learn more about companies and network employers from various industries. These interactions will often lead to interviews, which can produce positions within the companies.”
Genesis Vasquez, a junior at Saint Mary’s, attended the Career and Internship Fair to broaden her opportunities.
“[The career fair is important because] it helps give students the perspective to go and look at employers, [and] if they are seniors, potentially get a job,” she said. “If you’re not a senior, it can help you to find opportunities for internships.”
Vasquez said she attended the career fair to look for internships and after college opportunities.
“I don’t want to go straight to grad school after Saint Mary’s, so, I’m looking at options like volunteer work and service opportunities,” she said.
