Over 70 employers show up at the Student Union for the Internship Co-op Fair today. Students had the chance to talk to companies like United Technology or Amazon in hopes of landing an internship for the summer. (Charlotte Lao/The Daily Campus)
A sea of students overtook the University of Connecticut’s Student Union Wednesday morning, eager to get facetime with their most coveted internship recruiters.
With the summer quickly approaching, the 2019 Internship and Co-op fair attracted over 70 employers and 700 students across all majors.
Long lines gathered around recruiters for Amazon, Cigna and UTC, top employers for UConn alumni. In addition to these private corporations were UConn-affiliated innovation opportunities.
Sixth-semester electrical engineering major Grant Wallace said the most valuable part of the fair was the experience of speaking with employers in a “mini-interview setting.”
Wallace said he spoke to Hubbell, ASML, Kaman and PepsiCo.
“The career fair exposed me to companies that I hadn’t heard of previously [who are] seeking summer interns,” Wallace said.
According to the list of employers provided by the Center for Career Development, the majority of companies were looking for juniors and seniors. However, there was still a large underclassman turnout.
Second-semester communication major Nick Magliochetti found the fair to be a vital experience for his professional summer aspirations, saying he reconnected with a previous interviewer.
“Being able to follow up for the internship I had pursued earlier in the year was really convenient,” Magliochetti said. “I now have clear summer plans.”
Following the fair, on Thursday, Feb. 7 will be the “Interviewing 101 Webinar” to help students prepare for future interviews in the comfort of their dorm or apartment, according to the Center for Career Development website.
Fourth-semester math and finance major Teddy Nagengast said after meeting with his top choice of employer, the webinar will be his next step in securing an internship.
“I have my first interview next week,” Nagengast said. “I definitely need help with my formal conversation skills.”
Grace Burns is campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at grace.burns@uconn.edu.
