On Wednesday, Feb. 7 , students were given the opportunity to attend the College of Environment and Life Sciences Job and Internship Fair at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences.
These fairs aim to inspire students and expose them to potential careers or internships they could pursue in their future, according to the Florida State University career center. Dozens of employers set up tables throughout the room and gave students an opportunity to make face-to-face connections and network with many employers.
Among some of the employers were those within the environmental sector, life sciences department and even those in plant sciences. In total, there were almost 40 employers available to discuss and inform students on potential internships and full-time employment opportunities.
Many first year students were encouraged to attend this event, because it would help them with their future plans and if they were thinking about internships, according to the Center for Career and Experiential Education .
One student was Quinn Miller-Smith, a first-year double majoring in environment and natural resource economics and general business administration.
“I don’t really know what I want to do post-graduation,” Miller-Smith said. “So I was coming here to figure out a direction and make some connections.”
While Miller-Smith is unsure what he wants to do in his future, he said he is certain this fair will help him meet a variety of employers. He was able to discuss with almost six different representatives within just a few minutes of walking in the door. Coming to the job fair as a first-year student meant that he had very little expectations and he was unsure what to expect, Miller-Smith said.
Career education specialists were available throughout the weeks leading up to this event to guide students through the employer guide, according to the Center for Career and Experiential Education . They also assisted students with putting together resumes to show to possible employers.
One business hosting a table at the event was Mystic Aquarium, maintained by representative Amy Gollenberg.
Gollenberg told students about the various employment opportunities and internships the Aquarium will be offering this coming summer, including a chance to work as a part-time instructor at a summer camp for students ranging from preschool to 10th grade.
This internship would be particularly beneficial for first-years looking to explore their area of interest, whether it be in the education and conservation department, or the great mammals and birds facility, according to Gollenberg.
“There’s all different departments, so it’s dependent on the interest of the student and what they want to pursue,” Gollenberg said.
On the opposite end of the fair, was the Rhode Island Agricultural Food Systems Fellows Program. This program is a paid opportunity for undergraduate students who will be placed with professional mentors to work on real world food-system-related projects and participate in a summer industry training program. Not only do students walk away with six academic credits, they also get paid for up to 400 hours while shadowing someone in the field.
Representative Sejal Lanterman shed some light on the program and described how it attracts students from all different academic majors.
“We’re seeking students that are passionate about our local food systems and see themselves having a job in this career,” Lanterman said.
Catherine Deanglo, a first-year double majoring in environment, had her eyes set on a particular company.
“I’m hoping to land an internship by this summer and have been looking into Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. for a while,” Deanglo said.
VHB is a civil engineering consulting and design firm based out of Massachusetts. Deanglo said she was able to discuss with the representatives at this table to gain a better understanding of the opportunities available, while still exploring other programs and organizations – an example of the opportunities available at a career fair.
More information can be found about this event with the event coordinator: [email protected]