By Ryan Ottiger, Staff Writer

Well over one-hundred employers will fill Cintas this Thursday for students looking for full-time positions or internship programs to kickstart their Musketeer careers. 

Hosted by the Career Development Office, the Feb. 19 Career Fair will allow students to directly connect to recruiters from a variety of different professional industries. 

The spring career fair will be open to any and all students, even first-years who may not see the value in attending this type of event this early in their collegiate tenure. Students should come equipped with questions and resumes while dressed in  professional attire. 

“Whether you’re interested in healthcare, business, sports & entertainment, or non-profits, there is truly something for everyone. This event is open to all students (and alumni), regardless of major or year—it’s a fantastic and easily accessible way to practice networking skills and explore internships and full time opportunities including graduate school,” representatives of the Career Development Office stated. 

Representatives from the finance, accounting, marketing, healthcare, technology and nonprofit fields will provide an extensive representation of all majors offered by Xavier. Even for students who are unsure about their future career paths, the fair will allow for those students to directly communicate with recruiters across all fields of work. 

Unlike typical job applications, this opportunity will allow students to stand out more than an online piece of paper. Students will be able to make in-person impressions, have conversations, give firm handshakes and leave what could be lasting impressions on industry recruiters. 

These intangibles are what makes this career fair a unique chance for the student body to form relationships and connect with companies early on in their careers. In many cases, these connections can lead to interviews scheduled not long after the fair. 

Even for underclassmen, attending the event is proactive thing to do. At the very least, these students can practice conversing with industry professionals. Underclassmen with a strong enough impression and resume could even land internships, in cases where the companies do not have age standards. 

There is also worthwhile value in “getting your foot in the door,” and having recruiters receive not only a conversation, but also a copy of a resume. These skills will have better translation in later college years, making for a more complete body of work for the student as well. 

For upperclassmen, the career fair is more of a pressing issue. Many older students are actively seeking out full-time positions, making these impressions pivotal. Xavier hosts many companies that have strong alumni networks, meaning former Musketeers are looking to be hire time and time again. 

A key aspect for both underclassmen and upperclassmen is preparation. The Career Development Office stresses the value of having available resume copies, practicing pitches, dressing professionally and doing prior research on the companies attending. 

Xavier clubs also have events tailored towards the recruiting process, with events like mock interviews, resume updates and even mock career fairs.