The number of employers attending the Career Fair today at Sacramento State has increased 18 percent compared with last semester; however, companies have fewer positions available.

“(Companies) are hiring,” said Eva Gabbe, manager of employer relations and recruitment programs. “But, instead of hiring 25 they may be hiring 10 or eight.”

Sac State’s Career Center is holding its biannual Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Union Ballroom. Students and alumni will be able to meet with 85 employers to discuss internships, part-time, full-time and student assistant positions. All full-time positions offered at the fair require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, Gabbe said.

Although the number is up from last semester’s 72 employers, it is still down from five years ago when there were 135 employers. Gabbe said she hopes that within the next two years, there will be as many employers at the fair as there were five years ago.

Some of the jobs are in accounting, sales, engineering and information technology.

“We have many state agencies coming because they know they are going to need young graduates,” Gabbe said.

State agencies include the California State Controller, State Board of Equalization, State Auditor and Franchise Tax Board, according to the online participant database list.

Employers like these enjoy coming to Sac State because students have job experience, and their resumes look better compared with students from other California universities, Gabbe said.

Liberal studies students can be trained for positions like management and sales if the student has communication skills, leadership abilities, organizational skills and customer service, she said.

The Career Center screens employers prior to attending.

“Every company that comes through the Career Fair are screened by a team of people,” Gabbe said. “We make sure that (the employers) have viable opportunities and what they are looking for is what they say it is.”

Companies such as Avon and Mary Kay are not at the fair because they are more easily accessible to students, she said.

“I try to find companies that students just can’t find the information and therefore we’re helping them,” Gabbe said.

In addition to the fair, the Career Center holds workshops such as resume makeover, internship panel, speed interviews and an etiquette dinner throughout the year.

Gabbe said these workshops began again this semester after being discontinued seven years ago due to lack of student participation.

“When times are good people do not feel like they have to rush to a Career Center, but now students are excited and re-energized about coming back to the Career Center and workshops,” she said. “In a recession market, if a resume isn’t a winning resume, then it will not even get viewed.”

The Career Center brings in executives from top Fortune 500 companies, sometimes Sac State alumni, to provide tips on writing a quality resume, Gabbe said.

More information on the Career Center visit www.csus.edu/careercenter/.

Michelle Curtis can be reached at [email protected].