WSU Career Fair | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
Local employers scout Wright State University students and alumni for local job opportunities in semesterly career fair.
Provisions
Over 50 potential employers and numerous WSU students came together in the Apollo room on March 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. to connect and discuss employment, internships and other such opportunities.
In total, 56 employers filled the Apollo room to provide career and internship information across all majors. Readers can see a full list of employers here.
According to Wayne Stark, director of workforce development at the College of Liberal Arts and career consultant at career services, the spring 2023 career fair came as a group effort of career consultants and career services who reach out to employers as well as employers who have already reached out to WSU.
Putting together a career fair is a year-around affair, with preparatory invitations to employers happening in January for spring career fairs, which usually garner an attendance of around 300 students.
In preparation for career fairs, students must research attending employers beforehand to understand what specific employers are looking for and bring updated resumes for interested employers. Students can make appointments for resume creation and/or polishing at the Career Services website.
“Students can expect to see a lot of energy, a lot of noise, a lot of action going on, and they will find employers lined up in booths throughout the Apollo room,” Stark said.
Despite the sometimes chaotic nature of the career fair, students can find benefits of attending, including a chance for a professional career immediately after graduation, internships, co-ops and networking opportunities with employers.
Because of this, Stark recommends that even freshmen and sophomores consider attending a career fair.
To offer more flexibility, career services also offered a virtual career fair from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Handshake, where students could make appointments with prospective employers.
Experience
Upon entering, students signed in with a Wright One Card and received a map to where all the employers were located. Students also filled out name tags with names and majors.
Employers included everything from defense contractor KCR to local business Reynolds & Reynolds, but even WSU came to offer potential employment. Wright State University is currently looking to hire both facilities and human resources personnel.
“Right now, we are looking for people who are motivated to get the job done. We are also looking for people who are interested in furthering their education with a lot of entry level positions,” Mykali Isaac, a representative at the WSU booth, said.
Employers were abundant for science, technology, engineering and math students as well, with companies such as Adare Pharma Solutions, CFD Research Corporation, GE Aerospace and more.
Student Huda Maarouf studies engineering and came to the career fair looking for potential internships and co-ops.
“I really like talking to Midwest Manufacturing, and the guys over at ABC Supply were really nice, and they were great to talk to,” Maarouf said.
Some companies and organizations, such as Reynolds & Reynolds, advertised as hiring across all majors.
For solely Liberal Arts students, many employers will be present for the COLA Fourth Annual Internship Partners Expo on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Millett Hall Atrium.
There is currently no set date for the fall 2023 career fair.
