Penn State Behrend welcomes back career fair this fall with record-number companies and student attendance.

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Sponsored by the Academic and Career Planning Center, this year’s career fair, held Sept. 20 in Behrend’s Junker Center, was the largest yet, with 175 companies and more than 1,300 students.

 

With high expectations in mind, students prepared to meet with several companies to discuss future internship and career opportunities. One of the companies in attendance was Hyland, who promoted work-life balance to potential employees.

Students interested in software development, quality assurance, and software counseling approached their table to discuss future hiring positions. With work-balance in mind, Hyland wanted to share their work environment with students who are seeking a flexible work schedule. On Hyland’s campus, slides, volleyball courts, a spacious outdoor walking trail, and an arcade are offered complete with old-school machines and an Xbox.

 

“We want our employees to not only pursue their professional goals but also their personal goals as well,” said Byham, who noted Hyland expects to hire more than 300 positions this year. “Yes, we want you to succeed here, but we also want you to make sure that your main focus is your life and family.”

 

Students also found their experience with this year’s career fair beneficial to narrowing down their career options with companies who provide helpful information.

 

Megan Stetz, a senior interdisciplinary business with engineering studies major, said, “At the end of the day, a company should be about its workers and their happiness because that’s what is going to ultimately help their performance.”

 

Hyland’s approach to students this year is becoming a trend among other companies, according to Courtney Steding, director of career services at the college.

 

Truck-Lite, a Falconer, New York Company, which produces LED safety lighting, appealed to students by parking its Jeep Wrangler outside Junker, along with upbeat tunes.

 

“It’s not just us choosing them,” said Paige Ryder, marketing coordinator for Truck-Lite. “Students have to choose us, too. I remember how I felt at these types of things, and it’s nerve-wracking. But we’re all just people, and this Jeep is kind of a way for us to grab students’ attention and say, ‘Hey, we’re a fun company.’”

 

Taylor May, a senior Digital Media Arts and Technology major, attended this year’s career fair and was pleased with the feedback of companies he visited.

 

“Although there weren’t many companies there for me to talk to, I still managed to make the best out of it.”

 

May approached the Barnhart Transportation table in hopes of grabbing interest of the company.

 

“I was looking through the booklet that I got from the career fair and I noticed that this company was looking for someone who could do web design,” May stated. “When I talked to them, they couldn't have been nicer and even offered to do an interview with me for an internship which I was beyond excited for.”

 

May not only was honored by the opportunity, but he also was thankful to ACPC, as he stated, “My whole experience at the career fair would not have been possible without them.”

 

Chris Pham, senior in Computer Engineering, got an interview with Lascar Electronics which is a company in Erie that is looking for computer engineers specifically.

 

Pham said that going to the career fair benefitted him because he was able to speak with recruiters face to face rather than contacting them through only an online interaction.

 

He also added that Behrend does a great job of, “bringing in many companies for many different majors every year helping students get their foot in the door of the field and helping them achieve a full time job while making a good living for themselves.”