On Wednesday, Feb. 12, students gathered inside of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome for the bi-annual Career Fair. Organized by Career Services, Assistant Director of Events and Operations Amber Gray shared that she sees the Career Fair as an opportunity for students to explore potential futures.
“Don’t limit your opportunities–talk to employers who may not be aligned with your major,” Gray said as advice to students attending future Career Fairs.
Over 140 booths were set up on the running track including architectural, engineering and medical companies, representatives from the Nez Perce tribe, local businesses, state agencies, police departments, military recruiters and more.
There was a proportionally large quantity of stem-related opportunities, a fact that had discouraged Olivia Ponte, a psychology and sociology major, from attending years prior. Now in her senior year, she remarked her attendance was “better late than never.”
Even when walking through the doors, Ponte expected to talk to one specific booth and leave. To her surprise, she discovered additional booths that pertained to her post graduation interests and degree path.
As a freshman, Ponte had been intimidated by the idea of pitching herself to potential employers, but found that most conversations at the fair were casual. She encourages students to attend, regardless of their year or major.
Ruby Pichay, a civil engineering major, was another student surprised by the number of opportunities available to her, even as a freshman, and expressed an interest in returning next year.
Many organizations were looking for skills and interests beyond majors. Brennan Maletzke from The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said he was looking for anyone who likes being outside and protecting animals.
Sirene Blair, representing the Professional Golfers Association of America, was advocating for the many jobs in the $100 billion golf industry. She provided examples of career opportunities including engineering for manufacturing, IT for web services, journalism for media coverage and more skills applicable to the field.
Even if students did not find internship or job opportunities, Career Advising Graduate Intern Megan Lolley believes that the practice of networking and representing oneself makes the event worth attending.
Eli Ublenkott, an electrical engineering sophomore who previously attended the Career Fair in the fall, said he was recognized by multiple organizations.
Preparatory workshops are offered for students leading up to Career Fairs and throughout each semester. Beyond the fair, Career Services offers help for students, from resume creation to post graduation consultation.