A record number of employers have registered to attend the Fall Job & Internship Fair from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Student Center Ballroom.

The fair offers students the opportunity to network with professionals in various fields from employers around the country, said Robin Pijor, assistant director for the Career Services Center. This semester, 116 employers registered for the event.

“We’re very excited to have these record-breaking numbers,” Pijor said. “We’re very fortunate that these employers are visiting, and that they are committed to hiring Kent alumni.”

The fair features employers in a wide variety of industries. Because of this, it’s important for students to prepare and set themselves apart, Pijor said.

“Employers can tell if a student is prepared or not, often within just a few seconds of meeting him or her,” Pijor said. “To prepare, students should make a list of employers they want to talk to and research each company.”

During past fairs, attendance has been consistent at 700 to 900 student attendees, Pijor said. This year, Career Services Center is aiming for its highest student attendance to match its record employer attendance. Pijor said she hopes more than 1,000 students attend the fair Thursday.

Genesis Alvarez, junior international relations major, said attending past job and internship fairs at Kent State gave her the opportunity to network with her internship employer. She said job fairs expose students to industries that they may not consider applicable to their major.

“I interned with OverDrive, Inc., one of the largest e-book distributors in the country,” Alvarez said. “I love my major, but didn’t know how to use it in the workforce. The fair showed me that drive and good communication skills are more vital to employers than a specific field of study.”

Alex Wigoda, junior aeronautics major, said attending the job fair last year helped him connect with his employer.

“I prepared a lot before a Kent State job fair I attended last year,” Wigoda said. “Three weeks after the event, I was offered a position.”

Registration is not required to attend, but Ryan McNaughton, career counselor at Career Services Center, said students should come prepared for the fair by bringing resumes and dressing professionally.

“You only have one chance to make a first impression, so put some effort into it,” McNaughton said.

Contact Trenton Chavez at [email protected].