On the hunt: vets, students pursue jobs
By Katie Zeck and Lauren Santye
Over the past two weeks, the university has been working to assist students with what has recently become a stressful feat for college graduates — finding a job.
On March 21, the College of Continuing Studies (CCS) hosted its first annual Veteran Career Fair and Military Expo. The expo hoped to connect unemployed veterans with potential employers. The event yielded 77 employers, 14 Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), 142 veterans and 19 non-veterans, and was a collaboration with the New Jersey Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (NJESGR).
“The fair provided opportunities to network and meet with employers and to set interview appointments,” said former Army Infantry officer and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Michael Rosidivito. “There were opportunities with several companies for entry-level positions.”
Following the event, Rider was awarded with the Seven Seals Award by the NJESGR.
According to Jo Anna Chapin, an administrative specialist within the CCS and one of the event’s main organizers, there was also the opportunity for veterans to attend breakout sessions.
Rider also held its spring Career Fair on March 28th.
This year, there was a record of almost 100 employers that were present at the fair, according to Kevin Fallon, the director of Career Services.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had that many he said. “Fall is typically the bigger fair. In the past there, hasn’t been a wide variety of companies. That’s something we’re working on.”
A majority of the employers present were a part of career fairs in the past as well. Companies ranged from law enforcement agencies and financial organizations to consulting, government and technology firms.
“A lot of these companies that come here are because they have hired Rider students in the past and they found that they’ve been successful, and they want to hire more,” Fallon said.
Tiffany Beltran, a junior public relations major was pleased with her first career fair.
“I was really excited and a bit nervous, but they had a good range of different jobs and different internships,” Beltran said.
Contact this writer at zeckk@theridernews.com
