On Jan. 29, the University’s Integrative Learning and Life Design Lab hosted the first inaugural industry-specific career fair. The event consisted of two separate sessions on the same day, and aimed to connect students with employers in specific industries, ranging from engineering to business and more.
Students with interests aligned with Whiting-affiliated employers were encouraged to arrive between 10 a.m. and noon, while Krieger students were suggested to attend the session from 2 to 4 p.m. Although the sessions catered to different industries, both were open to all students.
In an interview with The News-Letter, Carlo Costigliola, a freshman majoring in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering shared his insights on the fair and the University’s support in connecting students with potential employers.
“When it comes to support, I feel that at times it’s very much present. The Life Design Lab offers a lot of cool programs and opportunities if students take advantage of them. But sometimes, the abundance of options can be overwhelming — almost too dense, with so much research and so many resources available,” he explained.
This industry-specific format was designed to streamline connections and offer students more targeted networking opportunities. However, the event faced some challenges, including long lines for the Biotech and Pharmaceutical sections.
In an interview with The News-Letter, Rohit Satish, a sophomore double majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science, discussed that although he came to the career fair with an idea of what industry he was interested in, the event helped him consider new career interests.
“Of course, there were a lot of companies offering internships, but it also helped expose me to different sectors and potential job opportunities I hadn’t considered before,” he said.
Costigliola echoed the idea that the career fair broadened his consideration of future plans.
“While I’m still aiming for a Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) this summer rather than an internship, this fair definitely opened my eyes to other possibilities. It’s made me more excited to apply for internships and see what else is out there,” Costigliola added.
