Career fair preps CBU students for job opportunities

Riverside, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2017) – The buzz and energy levels were booming out of the Recreation Center gym as students networked with nearly 100 business and government agencies in attendance. The Career Center at California Baptist University hosted the Fall Career Fair, one of the largest of its kind, on Oct. 25.

The fair offers a beneficial opportunity for both employers and students, said Lisa Singer, associate director of employer relations in the Career Center.

“By stepping on to CBU’s campus, businesses profit by seeing a great representation of our student body and by meeting a large amount of students,” Singer said. “The fair is also an outstanding opportunity for students to practice putting their networking skills in action. This is an opportunity to stand out and put a ‘face’ to their resume.”

Matthew Swope (’15, ’17), an alumnus who works for Hill + Knowlton Strategies, a global communications and public relations firm, returned to campus as a company representative along with Kelly Vee Stephens, talent acquisition manager.

Stephens said Swope’s talent makes it important for her company to attend career fairs at CBU to evaluate and potentially find the next “Swope.”  

“I think it’s a huge advantage for us to be able to connect with great schools that have strong communications programs—students who are coming with a skillset that we need and that we value,” Stephens said. “It’s also an opportunity to connect with the students and share what our company does.”

Haley Wheelon, an accounting senior, had landed a summer internship through a previous CBU career fair. She was back at this year’s event, looking for another internship or employment opportunity.

“The Career Fair prepares you for talking and meeting people professionally,” Wheelon said. “It gets those jitters out."