Monday, Dec 3, 2012
Rider students had the opportunity to impress 79 prospective employers on November 29 at the Fall Career Fair.
by Meaghan Haugh
The Bart Luedeke Center Cavalla Room buzzed with excitement as Rider undergraduate, graduate students and alumni eagerly made their rounds around the venue to market themselves to prospective employers at the Fall Career Fair on November 29.
Almost 80 companies from fields ranging from finance and retail to nonprofits and state and federal government were available to meet more than 400 students in search of full-time jobs, internships and co-ops, according to Kevin Fallon, director of Career Services. Employers included Deloitte, KPMG, Brainerd Communications, L’Oreal USA and the Disney College Program, among many others. Some students who had attended the fair might have seen some familiar faces. More than 30 of those job recruiters were Rider alumni.
Cherilyn Nichols ’01 received a bachelor’s degree in Economics and is a senior financial analyst for Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. At the Janssen booth, Nichols and her fellow recruiters were promoting financial and accounting full-time positions. However, they were also directing students to the website to learn about non-finance and accounting opportunities.
“We are looking for someone who is driven, dedicated and willing to learn,” Nichols said.
Anne Mandel, associate director of Career Services for the College of Business Administration, attended the fair in order to be available to the students.
“I see myself in the role as liaison between the students and employers. I’m here constantly moving to making connections for our students,” Mandel explained. “I’m happy to see our alumni back with their peers.”
Among the job hunters was Boris Borchevsky, a student in the College of Continuing Studies, who will be completing his Accounting degree at the end of this month. Borchevsky holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, and is looking to make a transition into a career in corporate taxation or forensic accounting. He had met with several prospective employers and said he felt well prepared.
Leading up to the big day, Career Services offered students and alumni assistance with updating résumés and cover letters during Résumé Blitz Days. Job seekers were also encouraged to dress in business attire, ready with their résumés and questions. Dressed to impress, the job seekers certainly came prepared. And employers took notice.
“I see a lot of professionally dressed folks with résumés and great questions,” said Tracey Force, a recruiting consultant at PHH Corporation. “That stands out. That’s absolute key. We look at you first. Talk to you second.”
Force said internships and full-time positions were available at PHH Corporation.
“We actually love recent college graduates,” Force said. “You don’t have to have mortgage experience or processing experience because we would teach you everything in the class to be successful.”