Despite the economy, in- and out-of-state employers and recruiters will be at Sacramento State today to talk to students and alumni about job opportunities.

Recruiters from retail, insurance, health and technology companies, state and federal agencies and private institutions will be at the Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the University Union Ballroom.

“The (purpose of the) Career Fair is to have companies that have positions available come to Sac State,” said Candace McGee, internship and student employment program manager for the Career Center. “Students can talk to a recruiter and get information about the company.”

The fair also provides opportunities for job seekers to make a strong impression on employers and recruiters and get invited to job interviews. In past years, students and alumni have gotten interviews through the fair; a few have received on-the-spot job offers, McGee said.

McGee said jobs vary from full-time, part-time, internships, cooperative education and volunteer work. Employers include private companies and institutions such as Apple, Chevron, Enterprise, Kaiser, Blue Shield and Stanford University, and government agencies such as the California Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service.

Senior business major Joseph Ross, who had participated in the fair before, said it provides networking opportunities for students.

“Students can get a better idea of what is out there,” Ross said. “It’s more of (an) informational (event), where students learn about the different career paths, contacts, information and opportunity.”

Ross said recruiters were welcoming and candid about whether the jobs they were offering are suitable for students.

He said he hopes there would be more employers at the fair.

“Officially, the recession has ended, so hopefully more employers will come to recruit,” Ross said. “Last year, the Career Fair wasn’t too optimistic.”

There are, however, fewer employers participating in the fair this semester. Sixty-six employers are registered for the fair, compared to about 100 that came to Sac State in previous years or during good economic times.

Still, participating in the fair is a benefit for students and alumni because recruiters will not only talk about current jobs, but also future job availabilities, McGee said. She added that companies and state departments that had laid off employees will eventually need to hire new employees.

“Other companies are preparing for the future, which can be a year from now,” McGee said.

Although certain companies do not have positions available for students or recent graduates and are not coming back this semester, others seem to be doing better.

The Stanford University Police Department, for instance, was not as affected by the recession as public agencies and institutions and has been hiring continuously, said recruiter Robert Contreras.

“I think we’ve been able to get through this whole mess,” Contreras said. “We are hiring and we never stopped even last year.”

The Stanford University Police Department, which has participated in the fair in the last two years, is looking to fill the deputy sheriff, network developer and civilian positions.

“(We’re offering) generally full-time employment because the deputy sheriff position is a full-time position, but this time around, we have part-time positions as well,” Contreras said.

Contreras said they’re looking for well-rounded individuals and applicants do not need to be criminal justice majors. For the deputy sheriff position, candidates should be at least 21 years old.

The fair also provides opportunities for students and alumni to start applying for jobs early, especially for jobs that require long application processes, McGee said.

Last semester, about 1,500 students participated in the fair. Because more student and college graduates are looking for jobs, the Career Center is expecting the same kind of turnout, if not more, McGee said.

“It’s good for students and it’s good for us … and recruiters do call back,” Contreras said.

Kristine Guerra can be reached at [email protected].