February 26, 2018
Meeting with employers from the New York City region and beyond, more than 810 students sought full- and part-time internships, jobs, and volunteer opportunities at St. John’s University’s annual Spring Career Fair.
“Career fairs remain important as one of the many tools St. John’s students can leverage as they explore their professional options,” said Paulette Gonzalez, Executive Director of University Career Services. “Students have the chance to create connections with employers to learn about the industry, company, culture, and hiring practices as they seek out internships and full-time positions.”
Held inside Taffner Field House at the Queens, NY, campus on February 15, the annual event drew 69 local, national, and global companies from a wide range of industries, including Deloitte, New York Mets, Mount Sinai Health System, and The Peace Corps.
On Monday, February 12, students at St. John’s Staten Island campus met with 44 employers, including Grant Thornton LLP, KPMG LLP, NYC Department of Education, and NYU Langone Health.
The size and scope of the event impressed students. “This is phenomenal,” said Kyle Jenkins, a senior from Mineola, NY, who is studying finance. “It is such a great networking opportunity. Instead of just applying online, I have the chance to meet face-to-face with company representatives and build up a rapport.”
Imaya Karunanayake, a sophomore from Queens, NY, made a similar observation. “It is really helpful to have so many employers all in one place,” she said. The computer science major is seeking a summer internship. “As you get closer to graduation, you need to start thinking about the future. This makes it easy for a student to choose which employers he or she wants to meet.”
This year, students were able to navigate the event on their smartphones through the Career Fair Plus app. It features a complete listing of companies in attendance, an interactive floor plan, event details, and career fair tips. Students also had the opportunity to visit a LinkedIn photo station where they could secure a free, professional headshot for their profile.
According to Ms. Gonzalez, the event is beneficial not only to students, but also to the businesses in attendance. “Employers are eager to meet St. John’s students,” she said. “Here, they can gain insight about their education, experience, skills, and values.”
One such employer is JetBlue Airways. “We have a very strong partnership with St. John’s,” said Razia Mohamed, a representative with the airline. “We always meet some very qualified candidates here, whom we hire as interns. Very often, they are able to transition from that role into full-time positions.”
For Tina Muiruri ’15TCB, a representative from Canon Solutions, the event was not just about finding new talent; it was an opportunity to return to alma mater. “I am a St. John’s alumna, so I know there is so much great talent here,” she said. “It is such a diverse school with students from all over the country. That is one of the reasons why we recruit from St. John’s.”