Fall Internships, Co-op and Career Fair prepared students for workforce opportunities through networking, free headshot photos and a refresh and impress station.

The Career Exploration and Development event welcomed 128 eager employers to meet Kent State students for recruitment.

Dollar Bank attended the event in search of students to fill its retail banker internship positions.

Latoya Dickson, Dollar Bank human resources generalist, said she comes to the Kent State career fair every year. Dickson said she is looking for people who have an interest in customer service because it is a priority for Dollar Bank employees.

Dollar Bank has hired three Kent State students for internships out of four positions that were being offered Dickson said. Dollar Bank is open to hire people from all majors as long as they show their interest in customer service.

“Kent students impress you during the interview process and they dress to impress,” she said.

Crossroads Health, a behavioral and mental health support nonprofit, is located in Lake County. Kent alumni, Kenyon Mau is the current talent acquisition lead, who attended the fair to hire clinical students for internships. He specifically had students who are licensed case managers and social workers in mind to join the organization. Kenyon said his organization helps students learn the right way by being more hands-on in its internship opportunities.

“What always stands out is how well-prepared they are. They have the preparation, critical thinking, skills and ability to ask the questions,” he said.

Ashley Dzurnak, Designer Shoe Warehouse corporate recruiter, said she loved the free LinkedIn headshot booth the event offered students because she has never seen one at any other university. Dzurnak heard many elevator pitches at the event.

“The students were very prepared. I enjoyed my interactions today,” she said.

Alyssa Hall is the Career Exploration and Development Sr. Cooperative Education & Internship Coordinator. She said this year the office focused on making the event more user-friendly and interactive with the new refresh and impress station.

“We’re hoping it generates a more authentic interaction where students are able to relax some and employers are able to see different sides of students,” she said.

Hall said the fair gives students the direct line of communication with the people who are going to play a huge hand in the hiring process.

“Rather than just apply for a job getting that generic email and hoping the hearing back from it. Students can practically apply for those internships and full-time jobs before,” she said. “It gives you a chance to remove that digital interaction and actually have that face to face interaction.”

Contact Celetre Jones at [email protected].