Opportunities still abound at job expo

Boston University students came away with more than just free Laffy Taffy, rubber racecars and circuit boards at the Fall Career Expo Thursday ‘-‘- they got peace of mind to navigate a frightening labor market.
More than 500 students browsed 66 companies’ tables at Metcalf Hall in the George Sherman Union. Though many students said they were apprehensive about their job prospects given the economic crisis, company representatives said they are still hiring fresh students.
CIGNA Corporations representative Debbie Saccoccio said companies are looking for the energy and ambition students offer.
‘We need really excellent people that are just about ready to graduate,’ she said.
Other businesses said they are growing, despite economic fears.’ The Wall Street Journal is looking to open a new sales division, Journal representative Caroline Postel said.
‘We’re definitely affected,’ she said. ‘[But] we still need to sell the paper.’
The Journal is looking to make 12 hires after holding expos at seven schools, Postel said.
Organizations like Japan Exchange and Teaching Program offer students a chance to work abroad for a year. Amid economic concerns, the opportunity to work abroad and to have job security can seem attractive to students, JET program coordinator Susan Gill said.
‘People are more willing to be more open-minded about how far they might go and what things they may be willing to do with their talent,’ she said.
Most students said they attended the expo because they will soon be job-seeking graduates struggling in the current economic climate.
‘I’m a graduating senior looking for a job in this economy,’ College of Arts and Sciences senior Tanya Sabharwal said. ‘A lot of my friends have been having a hard time.’
The Career Expo originated with the idea of connecting graduating students to employers, Office of Career Services Assistant Director Deborah Halliday said. Some companies now offer internships to other interested undergraduates.
Many companies have been attending the expo for years, but in the last two years, it has been moved to a later time slot to accommodate for students’ class schedules, Halliday said.
‘We want to make sure that as many students as possible can come to the fair,’ she said.
The expo is beneficial to more than just decided upperclassmen; it gives unsure students the opportunity to speak with employers and get an idea of ‘what qualities they’re interested in,’ Halliday said.
Event planners strive to have as many diverse companies at the expo as possible, but many students do not realize that every company needs people in human resources, accounting and public relations, and that ‘all kinds of roles at all kinds of organizations’ are available, she said.
CAS senior Eric Chan said the expo was a good option in a bad economy.
‘Everybody’s anxious,’ Chan, an economics major, said. ‘It’s a bad time to graduate. That’s why you’ve got to start off quick.’