Western Courier

Issue date: 2/16/05 Section: News

Media Credit: W. Mitchell Craver The sixth annual Spring Career Fair hosted approximately 98 companies.

Students traded in their dirty jeans, hooded sweatshirts and T-shirts for business suits, ties and dresses in hopes of becoming the next working man's hero.

Western Illinois University Union Grand Ballroom was home to the sixth annual Spring Career Fair, where hopeful students of all years and majors gathered to hand out résumés and find job opportunities or internships.

The fair, sponsored by the Career Services Office, was open to students, alumni and the general public - anyone interested in finding a full- or part-time job or an internship.

Sam Griffin, junior computer science major, said he was hoping to get an early start on finding a job after graduation.

"I'm here to take a look at the job market, to see what's out there, and to see what the companies have to offer," Griffin said.

He found that the recruiters were eager to find fresh faces for their companies.

"The people I met today were very friendly and are trying to look for different people and trying to get people to apply," he said.

Companies were looking for prospective employees suited for all walks of life. The majority was police stations, but there also were opportunities in finance, broadcasting, business, forensic science, agriculture and recruiters from the Army, National Guard and the Secret Service.

Officer Szymanski, from the Northbrook Illinois Police Department said he was pleased with the turnout.

"There are a lot of good candidates that seem interested in working for us. The students that I've met so far are all top notch," he said.

Katy Krass, sophomore business major, was one of the younger students hoping to get an early start on finding an internship or job.

Krass said she believes she may have found something that suits her, whereas before the career fair she was unsure what her future held for her.

"I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with my major, but I found a company that was interesting, so I think I might end up checking them out within the next couple of years," she said.

Approximately 98 companies along with several graduate schools from all over Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin were in attendance, such as Sherwin-Williams paints, Steak 'n Shake, Walgreens, Wells Fargo, golf courses, radio stations and Target.

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