Pirates & Professionals Connect: Creative Connections Career

Seton Hall University recently hosted the Creative Connections Career Fair, the second of three industry specific career fairs held by the Career Center this spring. Employers from the communication, humanities, law, government, social service and other related fields were ready to make early career connections with students and alumni alike. The event took place from 4-6 p.m., March 21, 2024, in Bethany Hall.

With aisles of company tables and hundreds of students eager to connect, there never was a quiet moment in Bethany Hall. Notable companies in attendance included the Newark Museum of Art, Johnson & Johnson, New Jersey Courts, South Orange Downtown, the Peace Corp, Townsquare Media NJ, and the State of New Jersey Civil Service Commission.

Students like Guadalupe Aguilar, a sophomore anthropology major, found that there are plenty of ways to get involved with participating organizations. "What I have been learning is that most of these places have volunteering positions. By taking these positions, I can learn how these businesses run," said Aguilar, eager to make new connections.

This eagerness is one quality that makes students stand out to companies. Matthew Kyle, HR manager for The Arc of Essex County, said that "curiosity and interest in growing and developing their own skills is what makes students stand out." Students were indeed interested; many came with resumes, both to give to employers and to ask for advice.

With many companies present, students found there are more career options with their degree than they realized. Abisha Desai, a senior finance manager at Johnson & Johnson, encouraged students to talk to employers of all types. She hopes that after this event, students will discover that the positions available to them are diverse. "Say you are a PR major- even companies that deal with finance need to do PR. Students should not limit themselves to where they think they can go but fit your passion into a company."

As the event began to wind down, junior communication student Eileen O'Leary reflected on all she had learned. "I feel better after getting the chance to practice my networking. I was nervous walking in, but after meeting with professionals I feel more confident in connecting with professionals, and what my next steps could look like."

Resumes were exchanged, connections were made, and horizons were expanded, marking the success of the Creative Connections Career Fair.

Now, the Career Center looks forward to its final industry specific career fair: the STEM, Health, & Analytics Career Fair that will take place from 6-4 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, in Bethany Hall. Let's get hired, pirates!

Categories: Campus Life