UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Fall Career Days will return to campus this week for a three-day hiring event on Sept. 17, 18 and 19. This career fair brings employers from all over the country to the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.
On Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., students interested in full-time, non-technical employment opportunities can attend the fair. Organizations attending on Tuesday are looking for graduating students or alumni with interest in business, communications, and health and human services disciplines.
Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is for all students, regardless of major or interest, seeking an internship or co-op opportunity.
Students interested in full-time technical disciplines that apply to engineering, sciences, and computer technology should plan to attend on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Fall Career Days is a great way to connect with a vast number of employers in a short amount of time,” said Elizabeth Fegert, career fair coordinator, Career Services. “This efficiency allows students to maximize their connections with recruiters while they are here seeking candidates with a Penn State degree.”
Fegert and her team oversee the coordination of the annual event, a collaborative effort between Career Services — a division of Student Affairs — and the academic colleges. With such a wide variety of organizations, she encourages all students to prepare and attend the fair with a clear plan to maximize their time.
“Those who are planning to attend the event should download the Fall Career Days app to see the most up-to-date list of employers attending. The app allows you to filter companies by industry, major, geographic location and much more,” she said. “The event is very large and can be overwhelming, so having a strategy will help ease nerves before meeting with potential employers.”
The Fall Career Days app can be found in any app store by searching for the "Career Fair Plus" platform.
Fegert said students should bring multiple copies of their resume, dress professionally, and bring something to take notes with, in order to stay organized and collect follow-up contact information.
Fegert also encouraged students to research potential organizations in advance, prepare a list of questions, and come to the fair with a strategy, so that they may feel at their most confident.
“There is truly an employer for every Penn State student, regardless of major. Students should feel confident approaching an employer with a pitch that showcases how their experience, no matter how unique or specific, would translate to professional success within an organization," she said.
More information about Fall Career Days can be found online at careerfairs.psu.edu/fall.