Fair offers jobs, vacations, future

A postgraduation job would be nice. So would a spring break trip to Las Vegas. A vacation in Japan is to die for.

Students attending the recruiting fair Thursday afternoon had a chance to win all three. Held in the University Student Union Multipurpose rooms, the fair included 48 companies in all, said Cal State Long Beach career counselor Angi Carrillo-Humphreys.

"We're expecting over 500 resumes today," Carrillo-Humphreys said Thursday.

The fair was bustling with graduating seniors, graduate students and alumni. Students with hopeful looks in their eyes perused the various employers.

"I've been to a couple," said senior Jessica McCain, a management information systems major. "There's a lot more people at this one and the contests are cool."

Hal Schaffer, coordinator of the on-campus interview program, explained why the vacations were offered.

"This is a celebration for those who are graduating, to pay them for all of their hard work," Schaffer said. "This is the first time we've offered vacations."

Participating employers also seemed pleased with the fair's turnout.

"There are qualified applicants that are eager to work," said Vince Tran, CSULB alumni and mortgage banker for the American Financial Group. "New blood gets everyone excited."

Schaffer explained that this fair was different because it may lead to on-campus interviews and it was open to all majors from all colleges.

"Students leave their resumes at the entrance, and then employers will contact students to schedule interviews," he said.