Students look to get ahead at Business Internship Fair

The Office of Internships and Cooperative Education along with the Accounting Club co-hosted a business internship fair on Nov. 16 in the Green Lane Building to assist students in connecting to companies.

Students gathered in business attire with resumes in hand, ready to talk to companies about potential opportunities as interns.

Students from the College of Business and Public Management as well as those studying Communication, Accounting, Criminal Justice and Public Administration attended the event to hopefully get an internship with one of the companies which attended.

Klever Goracy, a junior Accounting major traveled from Kean University’s Ocean campus to attend. “I want to get more information on the companies that are here and with some luck, I might have an internship for the summer which could turn into a job,” said Goracy.

Admittedly nervous, he said he’s attempting to keep that under wraps. He came organized and prepared to talk with professionals in hopes to make an impression.

Princess Johnson, a junior Business Management major felt similar to Goracy at the event.

“I’m a little nervous but at the same time if they give me a chance I can take that,” said Johnson.

Johnson said she was interested in the field of human resources or general management. She was in search of a company which could help her gain experience to assist in her transition to her full-time career.

According to JoAnne Beiter, director of the office of internships and co-ops, internships are important for three reasons. They provide students with practical experience which translates into a competitive advantage in their career fields. Internships also give students a way to break into the professional world.

Beiter said it is important for students to, “understand they need a resume earlier than six months before they graduate and be comfortable meeting real professionals in the industry.”

Evelyn Ochoa, a junior Accounting major, used the opportunity to learn about what employers want from students. She talked with employers in the accounting area in order to see where she could improve for the future.

Lastly, Beiter said that it is important for Kean’s name to get out because it can bring bigger names to the table.

“We have a lot of students who have landed jobs at fortune 500 companies,” said Beiter. “One of the things that lands a lot of those students there is starting at mid-level internships.”

Beiter also spoke about a new program run in collaboration by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the NJ Department of Education and the Office of Higher Education named “Many Paths, One Future.”

The internship grant program is designed to alleviate the costs of an intern for employers.

According to their website, the “program will reimburse employers 50% of wages paid to new interns, up to $1,500 per student.”

It is on a first come, first serve basis and students are required to be enrolled in a New Jersey high school, college or university.