Hundreds of recruiters, thousands in giveaways (and tuition!) mark 2023 event, curated by CSU Office of Career Development & Exploration

No one knew quite what to expect when the campus-wide CSU Career Fair resumed in person last year for the first time since 2019. “Unprecedented times” brought on by a pandemic had that effect on most of life both on- and off-campus. The fair turned out to be a smashing success.

Looking to continue the excitement created last year, the CSU Career Fair sponsored by Avient, will again take center stage and in-person this Wednesday, March 1, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This time, “center stage” includes all floors of the Student Center and Glasscock Ballroom, as well as portions of the first floor of Berkman Hall.

The entire team in Career Development has worked diligently for months, in collaboration with Global Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Partnership, to plan this all-inclusive event for employers, current students, graduate students, and alumni. All are encouraged to take advantage of the more than 400 recruiters from 145 companies and organizations that plan to be on hand, 45 of which are international student-friendly, accept OPT/CPT, and are willing to sponsor a candidate.

“I hold my office and our greater institution responsible for teaching our students the skills that the pandemic has slowed,” said Brittany Wampler, director of CSU’s Office of Career Development and Exploration,. “[That includes] in-person networking, professionalism, strategy around job search, and helping our students into their first destination following their time at CSU.”

If meeting a potential employer isn’t enough to get the blood flowing, an offering of over $10,000 worth of giveaways to students who register for the event on Handshake or check in at the fair might be.

Those who register before the event on Handshake have the opportunity to win a Swag Bag; those who check in at 2 locations at the fair could win a prize ranging from an Apple iPad to Guardians/Cavaliers tickets; one lucky student who checks in at all four spots at the Career Fair (1st floor Berkman, 1st floor Student Center, 2nd floor Student Center, and 3rd floor Student Center Ballroom) could get their Fall 2023 in-state tuition paid for in full.

Wampler says open access is one of the most significant differences in this fair versus more traditional career fairs.

“With CSU being an institution tied inherently to social mobility, it is important to us that this be an accessible and very inclusive event for our entire student body,” Wampler said. “All of our efforts—from encouraging advisors and athletics to take students on tours to having friendly faces as volunteers throughout the day—serve to build up our students to make sure they understand and realize that this is for them, all of them.”

The Career Fair is just one more piece in the hopes that students graduate from CSU and then work, live, and contribute to Cleveland and the surrounding region.

“It is my dream that every student, when they cross the stage at graduation, knows where they are headed for their job or to graduate/professional school,” said Wampler. “This event illustrates our commitment to connecting employers with students and is a valuable step towards achieving that dream.”

Learn more and register by visiting the CSU Office of Career Development and Exploration website.