Fall Career Fair brings employers and students together

While Obama and Romney debate over the troubled economy and the unemployed, Pitt students can…While Obama and Romney debate over the troubled economy and the unemployed, Pitt students can start meeting with potential employers at the fall job bazaar.

The Career Development and Placement Assistance Office will host the Career Fair on Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Petersen Events Center.

More than 200 employers from a wide range of disciplines — including retail, food service, entertainment and education — will set up tables with aims to recruit students.

The fair is open to any industry, but Pitt specifically “strives to invite new employers that are in high demand from students; this is done through gathering data from previous career fair surveys to compile a list of in-demand employers students want to see on campus,” Amanda Sell, the special events coordinator for the Career Development and Placement Assistance Office, said in an email.

Sell said students have typically been very successful at finding employment, be it an internship, full-time or part-time position. More than 3,000 students attended the event last year, accounting for almost 20 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Companies that attend the fair originate from all over the Pittsburgh region and include both local businesses as well as larger, nationwide chains.

Sell encourages students to register for the fair and to gain access to the employer directory in order to do some background research on potential businesses. Students can register by logging into the my.pitt portal and clicking on “Career Fair information.” Once students register for the fair, they will receive the fair’s directory in their email.

“Researching companies before the fair allows students to stand out in a crowd and network with employers,” Sell said. “It is always important to dress professionally and bring copies of your resumé.”

Sell also recommended that students attend the week-long Career Preview, beginning on Sept. 17. The kickoff preview event will include giveaways and host employers so students can experience a dry run before the fair.

The application process resulting from the fair will be faster than what is typical for a job hunt. Sell said applications will be available on site, and many employers will be conducting on-campus interviews in order to select students and quickly fill open positions.

For some Pitt students, a job can provide benefits aside from monetary ones.

“Career fairs are a great way to get your name out to employers,” junior Michael Kitchens said.

Kitchens, a neuroscience major looking to get into medical school, had spent the last two summers participating in translational neuroscience work in Pittsburgh.

“[Career fairs] can give you a glimpse into ‘a day in the life’ of a future career or job,” Kitchens said.