October 5, 2023
St. John’s University students representing almost every major had the opportunity to meet with prospective employers and scout out future job and internship opportunities during University Career Services’ 2023 Fall Career and Internship Expo.
Held on September 28 in Taffner Field House on the University’s Queens, NY, campus, the much-anticipated event attracted close to 120 employers from a diversity of sectors, including finance, insurance, government, and nonprofits.
“There are definitely newer faces and companies that I didn’t see last semester when we had the spring career fair,” said Sebastian Jeudy, a sophomore majoring in Legal Studies who plans to pursue a law degree after graduation. “It’s nice to see how St. John’s is expanding its outreach.”
The expo is University Career Services’ most exciting and well-attended event of the semester. Ellen Burti, Senior Director, Career Advising and Experiential Learning, said planning for the expo began weeks earlier with the selection of employers and a “prepare for the fair” series of workshops for students.
Ms. Burti said Career Services has traditionally listened to students and tried to recruit companies they are eager to work for. “We try to get a pulse on what students want. Getting that feedback is valuable,” she said.
As in previous fairs, some recruiters were St. John’s alumni returning to their alma mater to reminisce while representing their companies. John Paul Pucci ’18TCB, ’19MS, currently works at Schultheis & Panettieri, LLP, a midsized accounting firm.
In between chatting with current St. John’s students, Mr. Pucci acknowledged the formational role the University’s faculty and curriculum had on his preparation for success. “I had professors like Nina T. Dorata, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Accountancy, and Joseph E. Trainor, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy, who took accounting students under their wing,” he said. “They start preparing you to be a professional from the minute you get here and all the advice they give you helps with networking. It helps in the real world.”
Beyond networking, the expo offered students an opportunity to enhance their job application packages. Students received feedback and career advice from St. John’s career advisers and updated their LinkedIn profiles with a free, University-provided professional headshot.
Waiting in line to get his LinkedIn photo taken, Robert Balacich, a junior from Middle Village, NY, studying Marketing at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, said he seeks a position where he can gain internship experience. “I’d like to broaden my interests and see what I can do with my degree,” he said.
While employers might not expect to encounter applicants with broad professional experience, Paulette Gonzalez-Sierchio, Assistant Vice President, University Career Services, said they traditionally have been impressed with the academic credentials St. John’s students demonstrate.
“Our students reflect career competencies through their work ethic, ability to work as a team, intercultural fluency, communication, and problem-solving skills,” she said.
The University’s Vincentian heritage of service traditionally attracts several nonprofit employers, including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, autism awareness groups, and more. These organizations offer internship and career opportunities for students looking to help the broader community.
Joy Blanchard, a recruiter for Catholic Charities, came to St. John’s looking to fill both jobs and internships, including an open position for a migration counselor to help with the current migrant crisis in New York City. “St. John’s students have a real service orientation and that is a great resource for our organization,” Ms. Blanchard said.
Recruiters, some of whom are recent college graduates themselves, emphasized the value of staying open-minded and exploring opportunities outside of a student’s chosen major.
“Really cast that net and be open to opportunities,” advised Jason Dargan, a recruiter at City Year, a nationwide educational nonprofit. “Don’t pigeonhole yourself into any one thing—make the most of the year and see what’s out there for you.”