By: Molly Gase

Next Thursday, The University of Akron Career Center will be hosting a Career Fair in the Student Union Ballroom from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Career Center is located on the third floor of Simmons Hall and has hours Monday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m.-5p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.  There are also evening hours by appointment.

The Career Fair is an event held to assist students with their networking skills while they think about the transition between academic life and the professional world.

This semester’s fair will host 103 employers that will be recruiting from all industries, making the Career Fair applicable to all majors. Both local and national opportunities will be presented to those attending the fair. Organizations in attendance represent government, non-profit organizations and professional organizations.

Joe Protopapa, associate director of the Career Center said the fair is “something for everyone…not just seniors.” Protopapa spoke about how the fair presents the opportunity for all students to seek employment in a variety of ways. They don’t have to be on the verge of graduation, but can also be just looking for internships or just making more connections.

Protopapa strongly emphasized how the fair is mainly about networking. Protopapa said the fair provides the “opportunity for students to network and to build relationships with hiring employers locally and nationally.”

He said students should be aware that attendance of this fair does not guarantee immediate employment. This Career Fair is instead about getting out there and networking as much as possible.

Those attending the Career Fair will need to come prepared with a résumé printed on professional paper and must be dressed in business professional clothing.

Protopapa said that if anyone would want to workshop their resume before the fair, they can do last-minute preparation by coming into the Career Center during walk-in hours, which are Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

More information on the upcoming Career Fair and on the other services offered by the Career Center can be found at www.uakron.edu/career.