66 employers attend KU CDC event

By Andrew Kutzer

The career development center hosted its fall semester job fair for students to speak with potential employers from the area in the MSU room 218 on Oct. 5. Sixty-six employers attended the event.

Students packed into the multipurpose room, dressed in business professional attire with resumes in hand. Human resource workers or other staffers had desks set up lining the room.

Employers at the event came from different sectors of the workforce: the FBI, PA inspector general, Cigars International, PA department of revenue, East Penn DEKA, Children’s Home of Reading and others.

“We have a maximum of 66 employers in attendance,” said Jessica Kirkwood, assistant director for the CDC. “They are recruiting students and alumni for career related positions including jobs and internships.”

“It really benefits students to go around to the tables that have opportunities they may be interested in based on their major and interests because its a great opportunity to connect directly with those employers,” said Kirkwood.

According to Kerri Gardi, CDC director, students are asked to bring resumes and dress business professional. The sign-up desks handed out nametags and a desk was set up for student evaluations.

Glenn Roedel, a sophomore geography science major, attended the event. She spoke with three of the employers there but wanted to see more industries pertaining to different majors.

“I thought it was a really good experience,” said Roedel. “I think there could be more jobs related to more majors, instead of just all business or stuff like that.”

Roedel spoke with Prudential Insurance, ArtQuest and gave her resume to the Allentown police department.

Ayana Strickland, a senior biochemistry major, spoke with Euro-fin labs, the PA state troopers and Kidspeace. “It was very interesting,” said Strickland. “It really helped prepare you for your job and it helps with your elevator speech.”

She agreed with Roedel that there were few employers that matched her field of study at the fair but wanted to follow up with the lab. “I don’t think they have enough for chemistry majors. There were only three suggested for chemistry majors,” said Strickland. “I think they should expand on that.”

Strickland plans on graduating in December. “I think it was cool. I’ll definitely do another job fair. I think it really gets your name out there and they have a face to an application online,” she said.

Kirkwood said all students and alumni are eligible to attend the job fair. In the spring semester, the CDC will host jobs fairs, including one for educators that focuses on senior education students in March. A graduate school fair will be held in February.