Students, alums highlight career fair’s role in building connections

Nearly 300 attendees connect with over 60 local & regional employers

Over 60 local and regional businesses spoke with nearly 300 Alvernia University students at the 2025 Fall Career Fair at the Tom and Helen Flynn Complex (The PLEX). Employers offered internships and entry-level career opportunities to undergraduate, adult and graduate students, as well as alumni.

"Career fairs can provide four crucial benefits to students: career exploration, information about opportunities, new networking connections, and the chance to articulate their skills and experience to employers in a unique non-classroom environment," said Director of Career Services Marc Goldman.

The annual event allows attendees to gain insights from professionals in various fields not only to scope out opportunities, but to grasp what their industries of interest are like. Goldman emphasized that creating those connections early makes the search process feel less demanding. And it can help develop relationships with mentors, advocates and even Alvernia alums who work locally and regionally.

"It's always an honor to come to Alvernia as an alum," said RKL Consultant Aaron Ayala '21, MBA '24. "It's important to come to career fairs because they give you the opportunity to ask employers questions about what they do and how you can apply what you're learning in class in a real-world setting while building connections. I was fortunate to get an internship as a sophomore with RKL, and I've been there ever since. You never know where opportunities will take you, and I can't stress enough the importance of an internship. It opens so many doors, helps you figure out what you do or don't want to do, and you can't go wrong."

Through the Office of Career Development, students also gain access to resources that prepare them for the event, including resume reviews, mock interviews, and professional development workshops. These efforts ensure students are ready to take advantage of the opportunities and conversations that arise.

"The career fair was beneficial to me because it gave me my very first internship," said Brian Pascal (grad year?), senior political science and philosophy double major. "I had the opportunity to work for the United States House of Representatives, gain insight into what federal Congress looks like, and understand how our country's legislative process works. It exposes you to things you might not have been interested in before attending. Even if you don't find something right away, you still learn something new, and I think that's valuable."