Text-Only Version
In today's job market, students need to use every opportunity available to them to land a good job in their field of study upon graduation. The University of Maine makes sure students have a chance to meet employers face-to-face in the annual career fair.
Patricia Counihan, Director of the University of Maine's Career Center:
"The purpose is to bring as many employers as we can here to campus to make it as easy as possible for students to connect with employers. It's designed to help students talk with employers about the possibility of jobs after graduation, internships and learn more about career opportunities with their companies and organizations."
Dozens of employers from literally all walks of life came to Orono this past week and got a chance to talk with UMaine students in an informal setting. The fair allows the student to either browse the many career options open to them, or find out specific information about one particular employer.
Kathy Marquez, Assistant Director of Employer Relations:
"We had first- and second-year students who were kind of (saying) okay, now what do I do? We were trying to direct them and give them some feedback. Other people were very focused because they could go to our Web site, see who's coming, click into that company's Web site. They were all hotlinked so that they could do their research."
Chris Brissette, senior, UMaine Business School:
"You get to get out there and see some of the businesses such as Syntas. It was nice to sit down with them and find out what they did and go from there. A live interview was an experience that was definitely worth it."
The annual career fair is not the only event sponsored by the Career Center.
Patty Counihan:
"We're a full-service career center, which means that we help students from the very beginning, students who don't have any idea what they want to pursue for a career. We help them figure that out through career counseling, our workshops, our career library and then we help students work with them all the way through to gaining experience, finding internships. We help them with that process."
Interviewer asks Chris Brissette: "So, your experience with the Career Center is?"
Response: "Fantantic."
