The University of Connecticut’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills will host its fall career fairs on Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Union.
The fair will feature 181 employers including Amazon, CVS Health Corporation and Travelers, among others. The Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills is expecting strong attendance for both days, according to the Center’s Associate Director of Employer and Alumni Relations, Mary Malerba. Tuesday’s fair will include employers related to all majors, while Wednesday will be a STEM-focused fair.
“It’s a great event for students no matter what stage they’re in,” Malerba said. “If they’re looking to build professional relationships or ready to apply for their future position, this is a great event for them to make those connections.”
The goal of the fair is for students to gain confidence when talking to professionals and obtain a better understanding of different career paths that are available, Malerba said.
The center hopes students can make connections that will potentially lead to internships, co-ops or full-time opportunities, Malerba said.
“It’s more than dropping off a resume and having a quick conversation,” Malerba said. “We hope that students will really make the most of the fair from the perspective of exploration.”
Students who attend the fair are more inclined to enter employment within six months of post-graduation, Malerba said. The center’s first destination survey, which is given to recent alumni, found that 66.9% of graduates who attended the fair were employed. It also found that attendees were 1.4 times more likely to be employed than non-attendees, Malerba said.
Some students said they learned more about employers’ needs through the fair.
“I was able to meet a lot of companies, which helped me get more familiar with the environment,” Oscar Hernandez, a third-semester student, said. “It also helped hearing what companies wanted and looked for, which is something that made me work on and build things that might be appealing to them.”
Additionally, students said the fair assisted with choosing certain career paths.
“Attending the career fair allowed me to narrow down my niches rather than pursuing a career I was knowledgeable in but couldn’t envision a content life,” Olivia Alongi, a seventh-semester student, said.
The center encourages everyone to attend, but advocates for preparation before going to the fair. Its website lists five ways to prepare, including researching and following up with employers, preparing resume and LinkedIn materials, practicing a pitch and dressing professionally.
Malerba said preparation can make a big difference in what students can get out of the fair.
“Having a clear instruction, knowing which organizations you want to talk with and being able to articulate your interest can help you make a stronger connection,” Malerba said.
Students who would like to attend can either register on 12twenty or show up on the days of the fair.