If you think that you might find yourself realizing your worst fear of unemployment after graduation, don’t fear. Career Services is here.

For the past 20 years, California Lutheran University’s Career Services has provided students the opportunity to find jobs and internships through the Career and Intern Expo.

At the exposition on April 16, representatives from over 70 companies will table on Regals Way from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Employers attending the event are recruiting for full-time jobs as well as summer internships. A variety of fields will be represented, from finance and marketing to retail and more.

A few of the companies attending are Kaiser Permanente, Marketing Maven Public Relations, Enterprise Holdings, CBS Corporation and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Cynthia Smith, assistant director of Career Services, students will likely  land a job interview after meeting with company reps at the expo.

“If [students] prepare ahead of time by researching the company and have good questions and are able to articulate what they are interested in, students and alumni have a good chance of getting an interview,” Smith said.

Senior communication major Jenna Hartmann has attended CLU hosted career expos in the past.

“I’m going because I know this will be my best opportunity to find a job. I’m definitely worried about finding a job after graduation, but I have more confidence because of the numerous connections I’ve made,” Hartmann said.

According to Smith, most of the companies at the expo are from the Ventura and LA county areas.

However, according to Tiffany Madden, career counselor and employer relations coordinator, because some of the organizations have offices nationwide, this expo can also be beneficial for seniors who are moving back home and for those who plan to live outside the LA area.

“A lot of these companies have more than one location so if nothing else, they can get contact information and you never know what kind of territory these recruiters have,” Madden said.

This expo will offer students the opportunity to meet employers face to face, learn about the companies or organizations and discover various available opportunities. It is also an opportunity for current students to find internships for the summer or fall semester because many of the companies are recruiting for internships, as well. According to Madden, many internships can lead to full-time positions.

Career Services, located in the Scandinavian House on Faculty Street, can assist with resumes for this event and for future job hunts. They are holding a workshop on April 9 at 5 p.m. in Swenson 101 for students to learn what to expect, what to wear and how to stand out at the Career and Intern Expo.

Katy Sullivan
Staff Writer
Published April 9, 2014