The Dream Big Career and Internship Fair, taking place on March 5 in Swetman Gym, is among the spring highlights on the calendar from Career Services. At last year's fair, Bivushi Basnet, a sophomore computer science major and business administration minor, and Ashmi Bagale, a sophomore accounting major -- both international students from Nepal -- talk with Astrid Ressler, a talent acqusition specialist with Gray Media Group.
Career Services coordinates many events to support student success each year, spanning several returning favorites like the Dream Big Career and Internship Fair to new events like the "Get Hired!" Comedy Show.
“The Career Fair is an opportunity for students to explore a wide variety of career paths and uncover literally hundreds of opportunities.” Gary Morris, director of Career Services, said of the popular event in Swetman Gym from 4 to 6:30 p.m on Wednesday, March 5.
Last fall, Career Services started combining the regular career and internship fairs –- often bringing more than 100 organizations –- with a graduate school fair, which additionally brings in 65 to 70 grad schools. The result was spectacular, with 800 students in attendance and about 175 organizations, he said.
In Tyler Hall from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, the Communications, Media and the Arts Showcase will provide an opportunity to meet with employers and successful professionals within these fields. Regardless of major, all students are welcome to attend for networking and information.
“Table Talk: Dining with Confidence,” back for its first in-person event since COVID-19, will be held in the Sheldon Hall ballroom on Feb. 19. “This ticketed event always sells out as it is a fantastic opportunity to gain confidence in networking and conversation in a professional setting,” Morris said. Employers and alumni will be in attendance to make it more realistic.
A new event, the “Get Hired!” Comedy Show, is coming to SUNY Oswego on April 8. It will run like a game show and provide educational comedy that can inform students about financial literacy, internships and jobs, and much more.
Another new event is the Student Athlete Career Readiness Conference on March 31 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall. Career Services is working with Intercollegiate Athletics to produce this first-time event that will elevate the career readiness of hundreds of our amazing student athletes.
Other returning events
On Feb. 26, “The Interview Edge Mock Interview Program” will bring a variety of companies on campus to help students develop their interviewing skills. “Interviewers will give constructive feedback to help each student improve professionally,” Morris said.
The Headshot Extravaganza, on Feb. 27 and 28, offers free professional headshots from a Linkedin photo studio. The studio will be mobile for the extravaganza, but also is available every day in the Compass Resource Center, 145 Marano Campus Center, for any student to use.
All majors are welcome and encouraged to attend the Environmental Careers Showcase on March 10, and the Engineering Industry Showcase on April 2, the latter as part of the university’s Engineering Week activities.
The Women’s Empowerment Summit is back on March 26, bringing a wide variety of guest speakers and programs. It will include speakers, a woman of impact panel, a variety of sessions including salary negotiation and a networking event. Employers and alumni will return to provide their guidance and support.
These special events are just part of the overall experiences provided and supported by Career Services.
“The purpose of all of this, in the end, is to put a student in the same physical or virtual space as their potential future –- to help our students determine for themselves what a best-fit career path looks like.”
–- Written by Gianna Cowell of the Class of 2026