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Students connected with recruiters and opportunities this spring at the Job and Internship Fairs

Walk into the Mandela Room and Old Union Hall during Job and Internship Fair week, and you’ll be hit with a hectic air of excitement. The room is bustling with students (with over 600 at each fair) and chock full of employers. You get a name tag, hang up your coat and put down your bag, and turn to face tables upon tables of company representatives. Most students look upon this scene with a twinge of intimidation. But that fear quickly dissipates once you jump in and talk to the first employer.

For Nusrat Jahan, an undecided sophomore, it was her first time at the fair. “I was very nervous walking in with all these companies here,” she admitted. “But I’m just looking around at all the opportunities you can get without previous job experience, so I want to keep coming, next time with more preparation and my resume.”

Nearly 150 employers participated across the two in-person fairs. Both the Job and Internship Fair for all majors and the STEM-focused Job and Internship Fair, (Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 respectively) featured employers from a variety of industries, often interested in connecting with students from any major. Students could meet a representative from PepsiCo, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Northwell Health, AmeriCorps, and M&T Bank, all within several hundred feet.

During the STEM-focused fair, Constellation Energy Resources even conducted on-the-spot interviews in the Fleishman Career Center interview suite with students who they met at the fair, and offered two students same-day job offers. But even encounters that don’t lead to an interview can make a long-term supportive connection bloom.

David Geffrard, Recruitment and Retention Specialist at the Civilian Complaint Review Board, described how the agency uses the fair as a way to hire interns and full-time employees but is open to connect with any student. “If a student registers with us but doesn’t apply for an internship or career, we still always connect with them on LinkedIn,” said Geffrard. “I still support them in whatever endeavors they choose to go to. A ‘like’, a ‘share’, whatever the case may be, it’s always good to support.”

Gladira Velázquez, Assistant Director of Human Resources at Ithaca City School District, also touted the benefits for employers of networking with students. “The benefits of coming to these career fairs is creating a pipeline, so we may have students that are available to sub in our district during their breaks,” Velázquez noted. “They’ll also tell their peers about the positions that we have, so creating connections like that is beneficial.”

Students came in and out of the fairs at their convenience to stop by different employers’ tables, learn about career possibilities, network with recruiters and get leads on available jobs and internships. From freshmen exploring career options related to their majors to seniors entering the full-time job market, students at all stages of their career path had something to gain from the Job and Internship Fairs.

Alicia Kretschmer, a freshman looking to major in biology, came to the fair to explore internship opportunities in the healthcare industry. “I was a little bit nervous until I spoke to the people at the first table I went to,” she admitted. “Then I realized that they’re just here to help students like me that are just trying to get a head start on finding a job in the future.”

For many students, the fairs are a great opportunity to explore if you’re undeclared or questioning what sort of careers align with your major. Other students, like Magdalen Lynch, a senior majoring in psychology, use this opportunity to strengthen their professional network. 

“I made a really strong connection with Helio Health,” she shared. “I was a TA for a class that they had come into, and so I mentioned that and we got to talking about mental health in the Syracuse area, so I’m really excited for that potential opportunity.”

In addition to the in-person fairs, the Fleishman Career Center also hosted a Virtual Job and Internship Fair on Handshake for all majors. The Virtual Fair, born out of the pandemic, allows students to attend short info sessions with individual companies and schedule one-on-one appointments to speak with recruiters. At the info sessions, students can learn a bit about the company, the types of majors they’re looking for, and available positions. For students with more targeted goals, one-on-one appointments are a great way to get your foot in the door.

All three fairs offer a unique opportunity to build an intimate connection with employers, as well as get a broad view of the options out in the world of careers. The fairs are a great step to build your confidence before job searching or taking an interview. Employers at the fairs are excited to meet with students, because regardless of your experience or your major, you have something to offer them.

Josef Schindler, a junior majoring in computer science, appreciated the space for lively dialogue that the Job and Internship Fairs offered.

“I just wanted to get experience talking to people, getting that flow of conversation going, and I think I was able to accomplish that,” he chimed. “The people who came to represent the companies were really passionate about what they were speaking about and the passion rubbed off on me. Now there are a couple companies that I will keep on my radar.”

by Erin Zipman