They say that first impressions are everything. If that’s the case, the pressure was on for hundreds of students who made their way to the Student Center Ballroom for yesterday’s Spring Job and Internship Fair to meet with potential employers.

More than 700 students shed their T-shirts and jeans in exchange for their finest business dress to take a step in determining their future careers.

“We have seen a great number of students,” said Robin Piatt, Career Services assistant director of on-campus recruiting and employer relations. “I think a lot of students are impressed with the variety of employers that are here. It’s not just all one area, so I think they like the variety.”

There certainly were plenty of companies to pick from; more than a hundred businesses and organizations packed the ballroom to spread the word about their companies and find their future employees.

“I think it’s kind of intimidating,” senior Spanish major Lauren Stahl said. “You walk in and it’s just tables everywhere. It’s nice that they have their signs out in front of their booths so you can kind of read what their company is about first.”

The name of the game yesterday was selling yourself.

“At Cedar Point, no two days are ever the same,” said Debra Reinauer, representative for the amusement park.

Perched atop Aflac’s table to greet job seekers was a stuffed duck doll resembling the talking bird from the company’s television commercials.

“That’s 91 percent brand name recognition,” Aflac’s regional sales coordinator Tom Stengrim said, nodding in the direction of the company’s famed mascot.

Stengrim sought students interested in an entry-level sales and marketing position and gave the students he spoke to high marks in addition to mentioning that his last intern came from the university.

“Kent State students are very personable,” he said. “I’ve worked all the college campuses in the area, and I would have to say that Kent State students do the best in interviews and have the best resumes.”

Piatt estimated that roughly a third of the recruiters had graduated from KSU.

“It’s been excellent,” said Tim Tayerle, Frito-Lay distribution manager and 1985 grad. “Very good traffic through, some good, quality people – pretty impressive. I’m an alumni, so I’m proud to see it.”

Contact Career Services reporter Mike Ashcraft at [email protected].