The diverse Sacramento State student body has at least one unifying quality: Everyone is working toward that ideal job. Whatever that dream career might be, students will likely find an opportunity to explore the possibilities of the future at the spring Career Fair.

This year’s event, which is hosted by the Career Center, will take place on Feb. 20 in the University Union Ballroom. The fair will showcase 120 employers who will take resumes and speak to students interested in joining their companies. Many Sac State alumni will attend to share their experiences of the working world.

This event is an opportunity for students to gather information about companies they would like to work for and also for those who do not know exactly what they want to do after graduation to get a feel for the types of jobs available.

Several California government departments will attend, as will several national retailers, technology companies, financial institutions, health, and non-profit organizations. Many employers in attendance will give away free promotional items to students.

The most valuable give-away will be the information these employers can provide to students. Students will get a feel for what employers are looking for in prospective employees, pamphlets and information about the companies in attendance and the chance to show themselves off to job recruiters.

Students interested in finding jobs or internships should come to the event dressed in business attire with copies of a current resume ready to give to employers.

The Career Center will be available before, during and after the event to assist students with career goals. It can help with building a resume, give advice about what to wear and even help students prepare to meet with employers and follow up after interviews. The Career Center is located on the second floor of Lassen Hall.

Theresa Murphy, Wells Fargo financial adviser and Sac State alumna, noted in a telephone interview that the event is a powerful tool used by the banking company to attract new employees.

The Career Center used promotional fliers to advertise the event. It notified instructors and department heads in an attempt to get the word out.

David McVey, career counselor at the Career Center, along with several other employees, began production of a video on Friday. Once the video is finished, it will be posted on the Career Center’s website. The video will help students understand the dos and don’ts of attending career fairs and job interviews.

McVey said the Career Center explored several options to introduce students to the services available to them, including the use of networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, e-mail and text messages.

“We want to utilize the technologies that this generation of students is using to be able to reach them. This video is a way to help students to maximize the effect of the Career Fair. It is part of the power of experiential education,” McVey said.

Experiential education is the idea that students can tie the education that they receive at Sac State to the career they hope to someday have.

Michelle Gorospe, events coordinator at the Career Center, sees the video as a valuable tool in addressing one of the two main concerns heard by students and employers at past career fair events.

“Students show up with their backpacks on, in their regular clothes, and they aren’t prepared,” Gorospe said. “We are trying out new things, trying to make changes within the limits of our resources, and this video will help to address that.” Gorospe is also portraying three variations of students in the film.

Andrew DuCharme, sophomore criminal justice major, is one of the many students who have not heard about the Career Fair. He noted that many students come on campus, attend classes and leave, without spending any real time or attending any events.

Sandi Lang, a senior English education major, feels that the Career Center could spread the word better by notifying sororities and fraternities on campus. She also had not heard about the event or seen any of the fliers posted throughout campus.

“It’s not just a problem the Career Center faces, ASI deals with the same thing. It is really hard to reach every student, maybe impossible. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” Gorospe said. “Some students will go and find out about things on their own, others need to have it handed to them on a platter.”

One of the other main complaints that students voice about the career fairs has to do with under-representation of certain majors. Caren Echague, a senior biological science major, and Thomas Malit, a junior biological science major, have noticed that career fairs at Sac State have few if any science-related employers available. “I’d like to see some of the large Biotech firms, like Genetech or Alza,” Echague said. “University of California, Davis seems to always have better biotech representation, maybe I’m going to the wrong school,” Malit said.

Gorospe admitted that sometimes, Sac State doesn’t draw certain types of companies that are looking for people in small represented majors. “It often comes down to a matter of what is a better use of the student and employer’s time,” Gorospe said. “Also, companies that make the Career Fair have to be hiring. For a company that is not hiring, or doesn’t think that there are very many students on campus that will apply, it isn’t worth the companies resources.

Students in smaller majors should speak with the department heads, because we refer potential jobs to them when we aren’t going to have the employer on campus.” The Career Center does not recruit employers for the fair. Employers must sign up for the event. It is also a first come, first served basis; so many employers may not be able to get a place as spaces are limited and fill up fast.

The Career Fair is a chance for students to learn about jobs, internships and employers that they may not know about. It is also an opportunity for students to gain interview experience and to learn about what employers look for when hiring recent college graduates. Students should check the Career Center website or stop by the center for help in preparing for the event. Derek Fleming can be reached at [email protected].