Putting your best foot forward

Students seek employment at career, internship fair in Union Ballrooms

Kyle+Edmonds+shakes+hands+with+an+employer+after+speaking+with+her+about+career+opportunities.

Kristina Aiad-Toss

Kyle Edmonds shakes hands with an employer after speaking with her about career opportunities.

By Sofia Syed and Zaina Salem

Yesterday was the one day on campus when hearing the ubiquitous click and clack of dress shoes is not uncommon.

The UA Internship and Career Fair was held in the Union Ballroom for students and alumni and provided the chance to showcase themselves to potential employers. The Internship Fair ran earlier in the day from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the Career Fair following from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The companies, some of which included Smucker’s, Verizon Wireless, Progressive, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, were set up at booths so students could browse according to their interests.

Student Alex Compton said, “I thought it was very helpful in me finding a career.” Compton liked the variety of employees that were present. “Smucker’s was nice, PNC was another good one,” he said.

Each booth provided information about the company, some giving away knick-knacks and freebees to take away with them.

Grant Hasselbart, a sales manager for The Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena, said he thinks the biggest area of success they had was finding students who are looking for seasonal positions and internship positions.

“I think it shows them the variety of types of careers out there, and maybe shows them areas they may have not thought of before,” Hasselbart said.

Senior Jessi Finley enjoyed the open environment of the Career Fair.

“It’s easy to talk to anyone and get a feel of what everyone is doing,” she said. “This helps to get insight on what employers are looking for and to pick people’s brains.”

The Career Fair at UA is held every year and is free to all students and alumni. For more information on the Career Fair or the Career Center, call 330-972-7747 or visit http://bit.ly/1PDiPkn