University of Mary Washington senior Deborah Ramos was hoping she’d landed the job. With the analytical-thinking and communication skills she’s picked up as a business administration major, she thought she was a shoo-in for the position she’d interviewed for with a federal credit union.
Still, stopping by last year’s Career and Internship Fair was a class assignment. And, she figured, what could it hurt? “It was a good opportunity to approach them,” said Ramos, who spoke in-person at the event with representatives from her prospective employer. “I think I left a good impression on them.”
A senior who’s also pursuing a finance minor, she scored the Financial Services Internship and continued to shine, turning the paid summer position into a part-time job. Now, she handles financial transactions, opens accounts and reviews loan applications in her post as a member services representative, sampling a field she hopes to pursue while closing in on her college degree.
Employers from various sectors – education, healthcare, tourism and more – reserve space at UMW’s biannual Career and Internship Fair. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.
Hundreds of students – from UMW and area community colleges – attend the biannual Career and Internship each year. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.
Hundreds of students who visit this fall’s Career and Internship Fair will find similar opportunities to stand out to more than 50 employers. The biannual event, hosted by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), takes place today, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom. It’s part of Life After Mary Wash Week, which also includes speed résumé reviews, complimentary headshots, a website-building workshop and a pop-up boutique that offers business attire.
“There is a wealth of opportunities here for students to discover as they embark on their professional journeys and their Life After Mary Wash,” CCPD Director Michael Dunn said of the fair. “Our team is proud to offer this event and to showcase our amazing students to all of our employer and community partners.”
An array of organizations have reserved space at the fair for a chance to meet and engage with college-degree-seeking candidates. Student participants from UMW and area community colleges can network and share their résumés with employers in education, government, healthcare, tourism and more. The event – supported by the offices of Alumni Engagement and Student Activities and Engagement – also welcomes Mary Washington alumni.
Area employers set up tables at UMW’s biannual Career and Internship Fair in search of college-degree-seeking students to fill their openings. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.
‘There is a wealth of opportunities here for students to discover as they embark on their professional journeys and their Life After Mary Wash,’ Center for Career and Professional Development Director Michael Dunn said of UMW’s Career and Internship Fair. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.
UMW’s biannual Carer and Internship Fair is presented by the Center for Career and Professional Studies. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.
More than 300 UMW students reported completing internships last year, with nearly half of them (42%), earning a paycheck along with valuable workplace experience.
Ramos has brought the on-the-job lessons she’s learned back to her studies at Mary Washington, where she’s working on a 400-level marketing assignment aimed at attracting individuals to the City of Fredericksburg. Assigned in Professor of Business Alex Dunn ’s Human Resources Management course to attend last year’s fair, she plans to go again.
Her advice for others who do the same? Dress professionally and bring an updated résumé and an open mind. “Look at the list of employers beforehand and, honestly, just apply,” she said. “It creates an opening for a conversation with an employer.”