Careerfairbringsjob-seekers,employerstoCabrini

by Jennifer Kietur assistant perspectives editor

Hundreds of students milled around Cabrini in search of a future. They came to the Grace Hall atrium to find their future at the annual career fair on March i3 from 1-4 p.m.

The career fair was held by Cabrini in collaboration with Rosemont, Eastern and lmmaculata Colleges. The fair was held at.Immaculata last year and only 49 students showed up. In past years, the attendance by both students and employers has been on the decline.

This year, Nancy Hutchison, director of co-operative education and career services, decided she wanted to make this year's career fair a success.

"I started planning for this eight months ago. This is my first time doing this, so I wanted it to be great," Hutchison said.

Hutchison began to make a list of all the perspective companies that would be invited. She researched new companies that have never been invited before. She also went through the co-op program, because those companies are already impressed with Cabrini students.

Three different mailings were sent out for this career fair. One was sent in September, one in November and one small one in January.

Once the RSVPs started coming in, she was able to judge how many more companies could be invited because only 55 can fit in the atrium.

Fifty-two companies for all different majors were at the career fair and over 296 students attended. This was one of the biggest turnouts in a long time.

The employers will tell Hutchison how many interviews were set up.

It may be a while before a student hears about how their resume is doing. Hutchison knows only of results that come in through surveys.

"I am thrilled with the turnout of both employers and students. All my hard work has finally paid off. I took home all of the evaluations and, unanimously, it was a great event all across the board," Hutchison said.

"I would like to pay tribute to the students, faculty and staff. I would also like to thank Dr. [Antoinette] Iadarola, [college president,] for inviting all the companies to lunch. The companies spoke highly about all the students. They were well dressed, articulate and well prepared," Hutchison said.