Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Internship and Career Development (CICD) hosted its spring Career and Internship Fair on April 3 in the Sports Center Gymnasium. The fair hosted more than 90 employers for students to explore future internship and job opportunities.

The companies in attendance ranged from the U.S. Army to educational institutions, health services, financial groups and many more – all providing information while seeking future employees.

Students came prepared with résumés, networking strategies and background information about companies of interest. Prior to the fair, students engaged in a career fair boot camp, where CICD staff members provided tips on how to network and keep in touch with employers, improve LinkedIn profiles, participate in mock interviews and much more. The fair on-campus provided students with an easily accessible career exploration opportunity. Lacoy Brown, a junior who majors in health sciences, said the career fair was very convenient for a full-time student.

Clifford Marrett, director of the CICD, said students gain internship opportunities, full-time jobs and garner experience talking to employers and showcasing their abilities. “It’s a nervous process for many students, but the more practice you do, the better you become.”

Many students said the fair gave them a clearer understanding of their potential career path. Senior Taylor Day’19, an English major said, “The career fair opened-up my eyes to a lot of opportunities I wasn’t thinking of.” Day aspires to have a career helping people and feels confident about her future and the connections she’s made. Sadie Wood, a senior who majors in physical education said, “The best experience is being able to build relationships with employers. Developing a rapport with them that you can use when you get out of school.”

The CICD works to prepare students for the professional world by providing résumé help, teaching interview skills and connecting them to opportunities that provide real-world experiences.