Behind-the-Scenes: Career Fair
Rockwell Career Center Staff Share How Career Fair Comes Together
The Rockwell Career Center (RCC) Career Fair has become a staple event within the Bauer College community. Twice a year, at the beginning of the fall and spring semester, Bauer students gather to connect with recruiters and apply their education to their future careers.
As the spring Career Fair wraps up, preparations for the fall version of the event are already well underway.
RCC Events & Recruiting Programs Manager Ryan Gentile is one of the team players who is responsible for overseeing the day-of operations. He tirelessly works behind-the-scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly.
From organizing with vendors to reaching out to employers far enough in advance, Gentile describes himself as the one who makes sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.
RCC staff also works to stay informed on the state of the job market so that they can bring in companies that match what students are looking for, he added. They maintain valuable connections with all employers they work with so when Career Fair rolls around, RCC can bring in as many recruiters as they can.
“We try to get to the root of what companies are looking for, and then inform them on of different ways they can connect with students. Career Fair is a perfect opportunity for recruiters to come in and meet top tier talent.”
On top of all the behind-the-scenes work that Gentile does, there are a variety of events and resources that are available for students leading up to the big day.
“A lot of work ahead of the Career Fair is making sure that students are ready to go,” BBA and MS Accountancy Coaching Team Director Megan Bauml said. “We help them with their résumés, practice interviews and have drop-in hours in our office.”
Another way they prepare students is by helping set expectations.
Graduate and Alumni Career Services Director Stacey Piefer said she encourages them to not lose momentum in their search. It might take longer than they expect to secure a job or an internship, but it’s important to keep at it because the job market can turn on a dime, she added.
“I think that’s the benefit of slower market times,” Piefer said. “It forces students to be a little more creative in their job search and more open to explore different companies.”
Over the years, Career Fair has continuously improved thanks to the valuable feedback they receive from both recruiters and students, Gentile said. Through team effort, RCC strives to meet expectations to provide the best experience for everyone in attendance, he added
“Kudos to Stacey, Megan and their teams,” Gentile said. “They get our students extremely prepared to talk to these employers, so receiving that kind of feedback from companies is always very rewarding.”
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