Spring Break
Today's career fair points to summer opportunities
Employers seeking candidates scheduled to set up booths
Kate Taylor
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
The SJSU Career Center is hosting a career and summer internship fair today in the Student Union from 3 to 4 p.m.
This is the second of two major career fairs this semester, but Craig Chan, assistant director of employer services, said this fair emphasizes internships and summer jobs in addition to career opportunities.
"We expect to see a higher number of freshman, sophomores and juniors," he said, "as many are still seeking summer employment."
Chan said the center also partners with departments and organizations to put on career fairs for specific majors.
The number of employers at a career fair differs depending on size, he said.
EXPO '08, held in March, had more than 120 companies registered and 2,275 students attended, Chan said.
This fair has 61 employers registered, including Cisco Systems, California Energy Commission and Symantec Corporation.
Career fairs offer students the opportunity to meet and impress potential employers, Chan said, and become more comfortable and relaxed in their conversations with them.
"Even if a student discovers an employer doesn't have a specific opportunity for a student," he said, "it's an opportunity to ask questions about the job search process, industry trends or alternate ideas on how to secure employment."
Justin Perry, a senior journalism major, said he attended the career fair in March.
"I actually went to get my roommate a job," he said. "(Instead), everybody took my resume and called me back."
Perry, who said he was thinking about going to the fair today, said he went merely for the experience because he already has two jobs.
"But it was a great networking tool," he said, "because everybody who I talked to and gave me a call back for an interview still contacts me through e-mail. So I have options now."
Simone Hamilton, a sophomore performing arts major, said she has not participated in any of the university's fairs and doesn't plan to go today.
"I'm still not exactly sure what I want to do," she said. "I think some of the times (the fair is) not catering to what I'm thinking about doing."
Though the center does not know how many internships or jobs students have scored as a result of these fairs, Chan said the face-to-face interaction with company representatives is a "strong advantage" over submitting a resume online.
Perry volunteered some advice for anyone planning to attend today's fair: "Get a crisp resume and dress to impress."
This is the second of two major career fairs this semester, but Craig Chan, assistant director of employer services, said this fair emphasizes internships and summer jobs in addition to career opportunities.
"We expect to see a higher number of freshman, sophomores and juniors," he said, "as many are still seeking summer employment."
Chan said the center also partners with departments and organizations to put on career fairs for specific majors.
The number of employers at a career fair differs depending on size, he said.
EXPO '08, held in March, had more than 120 companies registered and 2,275 students attended, Chan said.
This fair has 61 employers registered, including Cisco Systems, California Energy Commission and Symantec Corporation.
Career fairs offer students the opportunity to meet and impress potential employers, Chan said, and become more comfortable and relaxed in their conversations with them.
"Even if a student discovers an employer doesn't have a specific opportunity for a student," he said, "it's an opportunity to ask questions about the job search process, industry trends or alternate ideas on how to secure employment."
Justin Perry, a senior journalism major, said he attended the career fair in March.
"I actually went to get my roommate a job," he said. "(Instead), everybody took my resume and called me back."
Perry, who said he was thinking about going to the fair today, said he went merely for the experience because he already has two jobs.
"But it was a great networking tool," he said, "because everybody who I talked to and gave me a call back for an interview still contacts me through e-mail. So I have options now."
Simone Hamilton, a sophomore performing arts major, said she has not participated in any of the university's fairs and doesn't plan to go today.
"I'm still not exactly sure what I want to do," she said. "I think some of the times (the fair is) not catering to what I'm thinking about doing."
Though the center does not know how many internships or jobs students have scored as a result of these fairs, Chan said the face-to-face interaction with company representatives is a "strong advantage" over submitting a resume online.
Perry volunteered some advice for anyone planning to attend today's fair: "Get a crisp resume and dress to impress."
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