Tatiana Campos-Teixeira

On Tuesday, March 1, Abington will be hosting the Spring Career fair. The Career & Professional Development Center (CPD) organizes this event in order to help students search for opportunities outside of school and to allow for future career and internship opportunities. Over 70 companies will meet with students who are interested in pursuing a potential career boost through an internship or job. The fair will begin at 10:30am at the Abington Athletics Building and will run till 1:30pm. According to Michelle Daly, Assistant Director for Employer Engagement, this event is mainly for business/business-related, psychology, social science, rehab, human service, and corporate communications majors; however all are welcome.  

The companies attending

Students can search for all the companies planning to attend by checking out this Abington website. A quick summary of some of the companies attending include: Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement; The Peace Corps; City Year Philadelphia; JusticeWorks YouthCare; The Elmwood Park Zoo; and many others. Healthcare organizations like Penn Medicine; Fox Chase Cancer Center;  Jefferson Health; and others have opportunities in both business/IT roles and in healthcare. Local and national organizations, such as the US Secret Service; the PA Office of Attorney General; and Lenape Valley Foundation have internships, jobs, and other experiential opportunities for students looking to make a difference in human services, mental health, education, and criminal justice. Other major local employers, like KPMG, Northwestern Mutual, Enterprise, UHS, Almac, and CBIZ, have jobs and internships for many majors.

How to be prepared 

There are a few things to do before attending the career fair. One task in particular that Daly mentioned is having about 20 prepared resumes to show prospective companies. Jennifer Rae, a Career Counselor, helps students with their cover letters and resumes. Email jlr6134@psu.edu or call 215-881-7511, to set up an appointment to meet with her. Students are allowed a 15 minute walk in session at 206, where counselors can give tips and advice.

The next step is to wear the professional clothing appropriate to an interview or place of business. Although there are no walls or rooms, you should treat each booth as a potential boss and as an interview. As such, you should prepare your interviewing skills, and what to say. To conduct mock trial interviews, contact Daly via email at med98@psu.edu or call 215-881-7967. Afterward, students will receive feedback on what to improve, what went well, and what to expect in a real interview. Daly highly recommended researching companies prior to attending. 

Another crucial step to be prepared for the career fair is to practice a 30-second introduction. The prepared introduction allows for the informant and interviewer to get a summary of who you are and why you are attending their booth. First impressions are also crucial, so it is a task that is highly recommended from the CPD office. CPD recommends Thebalancemoney.com for tips to create a 30-second introduction.

A current student at PSU who both works in CPD and has attended previous career fairs has stated, “While the career fair may seem daunting, it is important to remember that employers are there to recruit talent like YOU! I like to think of the fair as a meet-and-greet session between employers and Penn State talent. As you’re approaching the employer’s table, breathe, relax, and give yourself positive affirmations. Remember to be confident and authentic! First impressions leave a lasting impact so it is crucial you practice your 30-second elevator pitch so you can describe your skills and personality. When I went to the career fair, I was so nervous. I couldn’t imagine myself speaking confidently with employers. After all, there are so many people surrounding the tables how could I not mess up? To help ease my anxiety, I created a list of speaking points for all the organizations I was interested in meeting. This allowed me to feel prepared and less tense. At last semester’s career fair, I met a recruiter who allowed me to conduct an informational interview with them to learn more about their profession. Not only was I able to gain a professional contact, but I gained a mentor, too!”

For more information go to the PSU Abington Career Fair website.