In the past, the SOJC’s annual Career Fair, sponsored the Public Relations Student Society of America, has brought working professionals to campus to discuss their professional experiences and offer SOJC students advice as they prepared to enter the job market. This year, the organizers of the Career Fair tried a new formula for the annual event: They focused on direct recruiting of students by communications companies.

PRSSA Vice President and Career Fair Coordinator Erica Pereira, along with PRSSA faculty advisor Tom Bivins and a group of student volunteers, organized the Fair, which teamed more than 190 students with more than 20 communications companies interested in hiring.

Because of the format change, students in search of résumé writing advice were encouraged to attend an evening workshop prior to the Fair that focused on putting together an appropriate and compelling résumé.

For the Fair itself, students were advised to dress professionally, come with a résumé in hand and to be prepared for on-site interviews with professionals from all five sequences.

The day began at 9 a.m. with student check-in and registration, followed by an introduction of the recruiters. Following the introduction, the Asian American Journalist Association held an informal information session about scholarships. Students and recruiters then shared a light lunch that was followed by interviews that students and recruiters had set up earlier in the day.

Calling the addition of job-search opportunities a true career “fair,” PRSSA Advisor Tom Bivins acknowledged the one-day event as a complete success, noting, “The number of students attending rose and the number of contacts leading to jobs or internships was greater than in any previous year.”

Pereira, who noted the invaluable contributions of a great team of PRSSA members and a supportive faculty, was also happy with the new format. “It was very rewarding for us to see the recruiters here and the students’ excitement,” she said.

Of the event, SOJC Dean Tim Gleason said, “The students put in an incredible amount of time, energy and good thinking. The result was a well-organized day of great benefit to all participants and to the School.”

Next year, the PRSSA hopes to expand the Fair to a larger venue.