This year's career fair, which ran on Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., offered a more varied selection than those of years past, according to acting co-Director of Career Services Monica Wilson. Arranging for organizations to visit campus can be difficult, as employers only attend the fair if they have entry-level positions available, and Dartmouth's remote location and modest size makes the costs of participation for many organizations greater than the benefits, particularly for non-profits, Wilson said.
"We make a great effort to bring alternative organizations here, and we asked roughly 300 non-profits to participate in the fair," she said. "Only around 25 accepted our offer."
Students interviewed by The Dartmouth said they were mostly pleased with the selection at the fair.
"I really like that there was a separate non-profit section, since that's what I'm interested in," Ji Son '11, a graduate student at the College, said while shuffling a stack of handouts in her arms. "It's been a positive experience."
Some students, like Jianqing Zhan MALS'12, said the employer offerings were not diverse enough.
"There are a lot of consulting and finance firms, but I'm looking more for media and advertising." Zhang said. "I'm not finding many."
Zhang said she was frustrated by the lack of opportunities for international graduate students and that she wished more firms interested in recruiting graduate students and accepting applications from non-American citizens had come to the fair.
While it appeared that the non-profit section at the Top of the Hop had a moderate number of students in attendance, Alumni Hall which featured mostly investment and consulting firms was packed with hundreds of students.
A member of the Class of 2013, who wished to remain anonymous citing concerns regarding future employment prospects, saw the distribution of the types of employers as telling of the jobs recent graduates normally flock to.
"The financial part of the career fair was a zoo, but I could see tumbleweeds blowing around in the service and volunteer section," the student said.
Recruiters interviewed by The Dartmouth praised the attitudes, motivation and preparation of Dartmouth students.
"Our CEO is a Dartmouth graduate, and we specifically recruit Dartmouth students for their high caliber," Liz Perez, a recruiter from EverBank, said.
Jerry Wagner, a recruiter for the Peace Corps, complimented the strong international interest and knowledge of foreign affairs he has seen in Dartmouth students.
"Almost every applicant from here has some kind of good background, and there's an enormous amount of interest," Wagner said. "For the last three hours, I've sat down for maybe five seconds."
While Megan Strout '08, an Abercrombie & Fitch recruiter, applauded Dartmouth's "highly successful" students, she said many students didn't understand the different ways in which their degrees could be used in the corporate world.
"We tell people that working here involves running a business," Strout said. "It's not just about fashion."
Despite the shaky international economy, students interviewed by The Dartmouth said they were optimistic they would find employment after graduation.
"The opportunities at Dartmouth have helped me become very well-rounded," Ariel Murphy '12 said. "My experience here has really shaped my optimism."
Wilson echoed the students' confidence, and said the international financial situation would not impact students who devoted time to prepare to enter the professional world.
"If students block time and approach the job search strategically, they'll be successful," Wilson said. "Most students who don't succeed have not done enough self-reflection or utilized the resources available to them."
