The Current

Issue date: 9/15/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Matthew Hill Matt Palmer (right), Senior, Mechanical Engineering, talks to talks to an attendee of the job fair that was held last Friday in the Mark Twain Building. Mr. Palmer is employed with Eltek International Laboratories in St. Charles along with Danielle Simko (left), Senior, Electrical Engineering. Both of them are receiving their degrees through the joint UM-St. Louis/Washington University engineering program.

Packed into the Mark Twain Building gymnasium on Friday were 103 companies each with a small booth and at least two representatives as well as over 600 students, alumni and other campus guests.

If that seems crowded, it is because it was.

In today's economy, Americans are facing a housing crisis, a recession and high unemployment rates, but employers at this year's Fall Internship and Job Fair did not let the economy deter them from pursuing qualified University of Missouri-St. Louis students and alums looking for work.

"You have to remember that when the economy is tough, employers often look to co-ops and interns (paid positions) to help with the work load," Teresa Balestreri, director of Career Services said.

"Employers can add to their workforce without adding to their headcount when they hire interns/co-ops," Balestreri said. "For this reason, I think that there was little impact on the number of organizations recruiting this year."

Although space was tight in the gym during the job fair, there were many company options for students, the more chances for them to be hired.

"[The companies represented at the fair are] large and small, public and private, profit and non-profit. There are options for all students and graduates," Balestreri said.

Autumn Gordon, freshman, nursing said she was satisfied with the number of different job contacts she made during the fair.

Continued...

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