Iowa State’s College of Engineering hosted a career fair, presenting students with opportunities for future career positions and internships. Attendees were able to get a glimpse of possible employers and were provided numerous chances for networking.

The Engineering Career Fair was held from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Scheman Building. The event was estimated to have 4,000 to 5,000 students and over 600 employers in attendance, according to Kate Cossa, career services specialist and event coordinator.

The Career Fair is a great opportunity for students to build relationships with employers, Cossa said. Networking with employers can lead to opportunities like internships, co-ops or full-time positions.

Kevin Czerwinski, a senior in electrical engineering, highlighted the benefits of attending the career fair.

“I feel like it would be a lot harder for me to jumpstart my career if I didn’t have these events to come to,” Czerwinski said. “Even just the personal skills that you gain from coming to something like this…I can’t imagine what would happen if I applied online for my first position and had to learn all of that right off the bat, so I think this is just a great way to build communication skills.”

Anusha Kataria, a graduate student in the business administration graduate program, spoke on what she hoped to find in an employer as an international student.

“I am an international student, so I am looking for someone who will sponsor me and for funding,” Kataria said. “Here, I can interact with employers directly and understand what they are working on.”

Ethan Uhrich, a sophomore in computer engineering, commented on the accessibility that the event provides and emphasized that employers share a common desire for students who put effort into the interactions in a professional manner.

“The fair puts all of the employers in one spot, so it’s a lot easier for me to go from one place to another and find the best opportunity,” Uhrich said.

Samantha Guido, a senior in mechanical engineering, emphasized her desire for a company that shows they care about their employees.

“I think the benefit of coming to these events is actually speaking to real people, seeing their experiences and not just talking over email or applying for a job and just seeing the rundown of the company,” Guido said. “You get the personal experience like, ‘How did they get there and what did they like about it?’

Violet Stayner, a sophomore in civil engineering, commented on the many services the career fair provides as she set out to acquire an internship.

“Opportunity to talk to so many different companies at once and you get to learn and see a bunch more opportunities that you don’t usually see,” Stayner said.

There will be another career fair from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Scheman Building and Hilton Coliseum. A third career fair will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 29.