Job and Internship Fair: Employers Looking for College Graduates

The spring Job and Internship Fair on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills on Thursday, Mar. 5, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Loker Student Union (LSU). The event, which is co-sponsored by the Office of Student Development and the LSU, offers job information and networking opportunities to Dominguez Hills students, with more than 55 exhibitors from corporations; city, county, state and federal agencies; and nonprofit organizations.

Student Development psychologist Dr. Denna Sanchez, who is coordinating the event, says that on-the-spot “micro-interviews” at the Job and Internship Fair are a great opportunity for students to get a foot in the door of various employers.

“We’ve all been told how bad the economy is but that doesn’t mean that there are absolutely no jobs out there, especially for college grads,” says Sanchez. “Students may have to look a little harder to find the opportunities but they are out there. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE), college graduates do better in the job market during tough economic times in comparison to non-college grads. Since the recruiters who are attending have real positions to fill, the Job and Internship Fair can provide students with a realistic view of what type of career opportunities currently exist.”

Sanchez says that according to a recent NACE report, new jobs are not likely to be plentiful, but openings due to aging and retirements will be available, as 20 percent of the workforce will be over age 55 during the next decade.

The event reflects an increase in federal job opportunities, as the L.A. Air Force Base Space and Missile Systems, Veterans Affairs, the Federal Aviation Authority, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency join the list of employers this year for the first time. Also evident is the need for a workforce in organizations devoted to social issues, education and youth services.

“The list of participants speaks for itself,” says Sanchez. “Those in attendance reflect the types of organization seeking new college graduates for a high number of entry level positions, and more than 55 percent are government agencies. Federal hiring is on the rise, and even some state agencies, despite the budget, are recruiting due to the fact that they are a revenue producing units of the state. Boys Town California, Outreach Concern, St. Anne’s, and YMCA of L.A. are examples of nonprofit social services groups who are eager to recruit here despite the economy.”

Sanchez recommends that students attending the Job and Internship Fair should approach the experience as if they were going on a real job interview.

“Although recruiters will not conduct full interviews at the Job and Internship Fair, a student should consider that networking with recruiters is a very effective way to make a good impression which can lead to an interview and eventually a job,” she says. “Employers are impressed with students who are dressed professionally and who have a clear idea of their career plans and goals. Students should take a few minutes to familiarize themselves with employers of interest so that they’ll be able to ask intelligent, well thought out questions by visiting their websites that are listed on our home page.”

Sanchez says that CSU Dominguez Hills is considered a valuable resource for employers who regularly participate in the campus’s job fairs - and for alumni who return to their alma mater to recruit for their professions.

“It is a testament to the quality and caliber of our job candidates that many of these employers return year after year to our event, and often, an alumnus of [Cal State Dominguez Hills] represents them,” she says.

The CSU Dominguez Hills Job and Internship Fair is also sponsored by Verizon Wireless, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and U.S. Army Health Care. For more information and a complete list of employers, click here.

For more information on the Office of Student Development and its services,
click here.

- Joanie Harmon