By Aubree Eiynck
Marketing & Design Student, Albany High School graduate
The morning of April 6 was the SCTCC job fair, an annual event that takes place at the River’s Edge Convention Center where employers, recruiters, and job-seekers alike can gather, find new opportunities, and network. After hitting snooze on my alarm this morning in order to wake up early enough to get ready, excitement grew within me. At this event, there are businesses from all over the region, all ready to get their names out there with the upcoming workforce and offer new positions.
I decided to head to the job fair with my close group of friends with a plan to divide and conquer. After arriving just after 10 a.m., all of us wearing our best slacks and dress shoes, we were ready to do our best of maintaining potentially awkward small talk, walking slowly through the aisles, and polite smiles.
Being more introverted is definitely a challenge in situations where you are forced to start conversation, especially in such a busy environment. The aisles were packed with students, past graduates, and other individuals looking for an opportunity. The walls were lined with vendors, ranging from construction and electrical companies such as O’Berg Roofing to The Mechanical Brothers, to entertainment and retail like The Ledge Amphitheater and Kohl’s. Business cards and pamphlets accented tables with the companies' banners behind them.
My friends and I stayed for two hours until the vendors began to pack up their stations and hit the road. We had met with a few of our fellow classmates within that timeframe, asking them about the different vendors they visited, if they landed any potential interviews, what types of opportunities certain vendors were offering, and if there were any vendors worth checking out for our respective degree. As a Marketing & Design student, many of the job opportunities ranged from marketing managers, sales associates, graphics developers, and social media managers.
As we said our goodbyes to each other and were heading to our vehicles, I couldn’t help but think to myself about how wonderful of an opportunity SCTCC students are given through this event alone. Students and past grads are allowed to walk the aisles and network with varying companies and businesses they may not ever have the opportunity to reach out to or consider to join beforehand.
On this one day a year, from 9 a.m. to noon, the community comes together to get to know one another in a one-on-one way and connect for new opportunities. And although it felt like it flew by, I know that out of those four hours, hundreds of people walked through those doors anticipating a positive change in their life. The Job Fair is wonderful chance to put yourself out there within the workforce and open your life up to new opportunities.
