‘Industry Nights’ Help Students Make Key Job Connections

In the last three weeks, more than 100 employers met virtually with Curry College students to network and potentially fill hundreds of open positions, from internships to part and full-time jobs. The new "Industry Night" career fair series led by the Center for Career Development (CCD) featured five virtual events organized by industry to allow students of related majors to meet with potential employers from their desired career fields.

TJX Companies, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Stonewall Kitchen, Enterprise, the MBTA, the Home for Little Wanderers, and KIND Healthy Snacks were among the many recruiters in attendance on top of dozens of other local organizations, schools, hospitals, news stations, and police departments eager to meet with Curry's students and young alumni.  

Communication major Michael Templeton '23 spoke with professionals from NBC Boston, CBS New York, and Marshfield Community Television. "I greatly benefited from the Communication, Humanities and the Arts Industry Night," he says. "I was able to forge some excellent connections with employers in my field who are in the area, and I know now what is expected of me with a typical internship opportunity."

More than 160 students attended the series. Kerri Farragher, '23, a criminal justice major, attended the Law and Government Industry Night also feels the opportunity to network, speak and ask questions with the representatives was a valuable experience. "I thought the event had a perfect variety of employers. The information provided by each employer was helpful, and each professional I met had great advice for students on finding and getting job opportunities."

Many attendees, both employers and students, applauded the event setup for feeling like a traditional in-person job fair. It was facilitated by the virtual platform Remo which creates a large virtual gathering room where students can then select which employer "booth" to visit. Employers had access to screen sharing, a digital whiteboard as well as video, audio, and chat tools to help explain their company or roles.

"I didn't know what to expect as I had never heard of the Remo software before, but I immediately appreciated it and its capabilities," adds Templeton. "Once the event started, we had multiple tables and could start hopping from one to another, which made me feel connected and engaged in the program."  

Nurse Recruiter Jessica Ash '08 from the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System shares the sentiment. "The platform was great, and I loved how it felt like a true job fair. I hope more colleges use this platform for their events."

An added benefit to this year's job fair was the integration of Handshake. Since launching the leading job search and networking platform last fall, the CCD has expanded its network of employers across industry and geography. Many new companies attended the annual career fair event as a result. Moreover, the flexibility and ease of participating in the job fair virtually led to increased employer attendance from years prior.

"This was the first year that we've led smaller industry-focused events, and it's helped students gain further knowledge of their desired field. We’ve heard from many students and employers who have made meaningful connections," says Michael Bosco, assistant vice president of Academic Affairs. "Given its success, we're now considering a similar event in the fall focused exclusively on internship opportunities for students."