56 employers were on hand, ready to meet students and alumni at Cal State Bakersfield. Students attended the Career Expo 26’ with resumes on hand and their best outfits, hoping to shine.
The Career Education and Community Engagement held its Spring Career Expo on March 5, giving students a chance to see what to expect as they prepare to enter the job market.
CECE hosts a career expo every semester where employers are there to offer mock interviews, share job resources, and hand out company freebies.
“Events like this showcase and highlight all of the different opportunities to specifically pursue student analytics,” said CECE Director Katrina Gilmore.
“Events like these are important for students nearing graduation and preparing for their careers, as it connects them with employers from the county and from outside the area,” Gilmore continued.
CECE has seen an increase in employers wanting to participate in the expos.
“We see a lot of our employers wanting to specifically reach out to our campus for our students, and that is a great thing for people that are right here,” said Gilmore.
Gilmore says that she hopes that students come out early to these events.
“You do not have to be graduating or a senior to attend events to start exploring your career opportunities. You want to see what the requirements are to get into that particular career,” Gilmore said.
“Part of the reason I came to the job fair is to look for opportunities and any internships or even a part-time job.” said junior major in kinesiology, Isaac Gomez.
Gomez stated, “It’s a great opportunity to explore other fields. Maybe even look at things that pique student interest a little bit, just to give students better options, or maybe even want them to change their field academically, so that they can just continue to explore other options.”
Gomez says that he applied to Sportsplex Bakersfield for a soccer coaching position. He is currently a part-time coach at his old high school.
CSUB junior Alurah Lorigo, a kinesiology major, says that she recognizes that students may have issues managing their school schedules and home life, but that opportunities like this give students a great horizon to see what they have available. Lorigo encourages CSUB students to take advantage of events like this.
“I found great interest in a few employers here, like Valley Strong and Wonderful. They have great internships online, and I am so excited to apply,” said senior Jessica Jimenez, a business administration major with a concentration in human resource management.
According to Jimenez, “This gives every student a huge step, a big foot in the door.”
Many of the companies at the event were recruiting for student intern positions. Interning is a way for students to get real world experiences, networking opportunities, and to explore career changes.
A piece of advice that Jimenez would like to give students who are interested in attending the next career expo is: “Definitely dress well. Dress professionally, as first impressions are important when networking with potential employers.”
