Opportunity knocks for students at Career Night
75 employers will be available at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum for one-on-one consultation

By Julie Ann Matonis
Staff Reporter

With résumés in hand and dollar signs in their eyes, some students will be on their way to a professional career after shaking hands and making some one-on-one contact Wednesday.

An estimated 75 employers will be in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum from 4 to 7 p.m. for Career Night, an employment opportunity for students interested in internships, summer positions and full-time jobs.

Bill Stowe, associate director of Career Services said this year is the largest Career Night TCU has ever had. At press time, 75 employers had registered and four more employers were interested in attending.

“This may be one of the only times where employers come to students,” Stowe said.

The event is open to all students and alumni. It is co-sponsored by Career Services, Athletic Academic Services, the Public Relations Student Society of America, and Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity.

Most majors will be represented at the fair, including criminal justice, social work, business, engineering and psychology. Companies like Foley’s, Walgreens, Ernst and Young LLP and Harcourt College Publishers have registered to attend. Employers are searching for students to fill internships, summer positions and full-time jobs.

John Cortez, director of selection of the Reeter firm of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, said his firm has been at Career Night for the past six years looking for the right people to hire. He said he estimates that they have hired four interns and filled eight full-time positions with TCU students.

“The quality of students is excellent and keeps us coming back,” Cortez said. “It’s an opportunity to talk to a lot of students at once.”

Stowe said attendance at the event has been steadily increasing each year, and last year about 500 students attended.

Dominick Marsala, vice president of professional activities for Delta Sigma Pi, said students should want to go to Career Night.

“Students should use this as an opportunity,” Marsala said. “We don’t need to cajole them into going.”

Jennifer Gould, a junior fashion merchandising major, said she was encouraged to go to Career Night by the professor of her Career Development class. She said she has already printed out copies of her résumé in case any company expresses interest in her.

“I’m looking for an informal internship this summer,” Gould said. “My big sister in my sorority went (to Career Night) a couple years ago and got an internship which led to a full-time position.”

Traditionally Career Night has been held in the Student Center Ballroom. Space, however, was limited to about 50 employers. The new venue, in the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, will allow 75 employers to participate.

At the student check-in table in the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, there will be lists of the employers attending, the majors being recruited and which employers have internships available.

Stowe said the preferred attire is a suit, and students should bring copies of their résumés. He also recommended that students arrive by 6 p.m. so they have plenty of time to talk to employers.

Julie Ann Matonis
j.a.matonis@student.tcu.edu