July 23, 2009

The new Internship and Career Expo – the first large-scale recruitment event at California State University, Fresno – will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at the Save Mart Center.

More than 1,000 Fresno State students and alumni are expected to attend the event presented by the Fresno State Career Services Office with the theme, “License to Succeed.”

More than 200 local, regional, state and national employing organizations will recruit at the new event, which combines five smaller and formerly separate fairs held on campus each spring:  the Science and Engineering Career Fair, the Craig School of Business Job Fair, the Internship and Summer Job Fair, the Viticulture and Enology Career Job Fair and the university’s general Career Job Fair.

Fresno State students, alumni and college-educated members of the Central Valley are welcome to attend the expo. Attendees must be enrolled in a degree program or already possess a college degree and are encouraged to talk with employers one-on-one to gain insight on opportunities and demonstrate highly-sought communication skills, said Rita Bocchinfuso-Cohen, director of Career Services.

“The expo will be of special interest to all Fresno State students, not just seniors,” she said. “Alumni and seniors are encouraged to speak with recruiters about full-time professional employment. Juniors and sophomores can obtain information about internships and summer employment, while sophomores and freshmen can explore future career opportunities related to their majors.”

Bocchinfuso-Cohen said the event also provides employers a great opportunity to tap into Central California’s college-educated public.

“Many of the employers who have signed up indicated an interest in seeing candidates who are working on, or have completed, a master's or specialty degree,” Bocchinfuso-Cohen said. “Meeting potential candidates at events like this allows employers to streamline their recruitment process and to become acquainted with the people represented by the resumes they receive. Job seekers need to be ready to face this job market armed with excellent communication and technical skills to be competitive for the best jobs.”

The consolidation of career fairs and the move to the Save Mart Center reinforces Fresno State’s Career Services as a full-service program that assists students seeking a start to their careers. The five-member professional staff counsels and assists students and alumni with career exploration, decision-making, networking and job-search preparation.

Candidates seeking full-time employment should dress professionally and bring copies of their résumé, Bocchinfuso-Cohen said.