The Importance of Career Fairs!

Hello and welcome back!  I hope everyone had a wonderful summer.  For those who are just starting their education with Hofstra, I would like to welcome you to the Career Center.  While I have previously worked in the Career Center as a temporary career counselor, I am very happy to say that I am now a permanent, full-time member of the Career Center team. I have worked with some of you before and I am looking forward to getting to know more of you soon.  I will be assisting all students, but my area of specialty is business so I encourage all of you business majors to make an appointment with me so that we can begin to map out your road to success!

I know you are just getting settled in but I wanted to make sure that you know about our wonderful upcoming events.  It's never too early to start getting involved with the great opportunities that the Career Center has to offer and we have been hard at work to make sure we have plenty for you!  Please check our calendar for a complete list of events, but here is a list of Career Fairs that we have this semester:

Accounting and Finance Fair on Wednesday, September 19th from 6:00-8:00pm, Multipurpose Room, Student Center

In conjunction with the School of Communication, the Career Center is hosting our Communication Career Fair on Wednesday, October 24th from 11-1, Studio A, Dempster Hall

Fall Job and Internship Fair, Wednesday, October 31st, 11-2 (no, you can't come in costume unless your costume is a professional job-seeker) David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex

Education Career Fair Night, Thursday, November 1, 3:45-6:45, Hagedorn Hall Lobby

Health Internship Fair, Wednesday, November 7, Common Hour, Multipurpose Room, Student Center

These events offer you a wonderful chance to get in front of decision makers in your field!

Some of you may be saying to yourself "but I'm not graduating this semester, why should I show up to these events?" Well, there are many reasons to attend a career fair.  Our employers will be looking to fill part-time and internship positions as well as full-time positions. Internships are pivotal in this competitive job market.  Having related work experience on your resume will put you ahead of other candidates when you do inevitably look for your first full-time job in your field, plus you get the opportunity to "try out" a career before you graduate.

There are other benefits of attending as well.  Speaking to employers a a career fair can give you a peek into what types of positions employers are looking to fill, and gives you a chance to practice speaking to an employer about what type of position you are seeking.

-Darlene Johnson, Assistant Director