By Joshua Aguilar | Staff Writer
The Career Extravaganza, hosted by CSUSB on April 11, allow those who want to pursue their own career a good place to start.
The event was held in the San Manuel Student Union Event Center, which invited 76 employers and students and alumni to meet, interview, and learn about new employers and opportunities.
The employers who were present at the event were divided into four sections: Corporate, Federal/State/Government, Non-Profit, and Education/School Districts.
Edgar Perez, the Employer Relations Coordinator, along with CSUSB’s Career Center, explained the main goal of having the event for the students.
“Our main goal was to have a large number of employers here on campus that represent several areas of employment,” said Perez, “and that they were actually readily hiring and interviewing students.”
The event had a recorded number of 520 students who attended the event according to Perez.
The attendance and participation from the students made the event a success.
“We’re excited that the students came out to support the event and to have this many students and community people show up it was a great success for us,” said Perez.
Perez continued, “63 percent of the employers have communicated with us that they will be reaching out to the students they spoke with to extend second interviews.”
The event provides students with a great opportunity to engage and interact with the employers in their respective field of study.
“I wanted to broaden my horizons, get some networking going, as well as build up the opportunities because there is so much opportunity here,” said student Aaron Ogura.
“It’s nerve wracking because I tried to do my research beforehand and to make sure I know about the employer I go up to beforehand,” said student Bernadette Eata.
Recruiter Jesse Garcia, from Allstate, expressed the type of skills and experience they are looking for from students.
“Basically right now we are looking for employees who have a degree or are close to completing their degree, but not limited to any particular field,” Garcia said.
“We need workers who are looking to branch out and not limit themselves,” continued Garcia.
The event was split between two floors of the SMSU, with Corporate, Non-Profit, and Education/School Districts in the event center and Federal/State/Government in the upstairs fourplex.
Many were moving quickly from each booth with excitement and others were looking around and were unsure which employer to approach first.
Kyle Collingwood, a Target recruiter, spoke about what he liked best from the students of CSUSB.
“A lot of the students showed a lot of passion and drive to get a career once they graduate with their degree,” said Collingwood.
The Career Extravaganza was very helpful for students to gain confidence in approaching and interacting with employers which could benefit them after graduation.
“I feel confident;, the school has given us all of the tools and resources to be ready to enter into the workplace,” said Guadalupe Torres.
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