On Wednesday, 140 companies came to campus for the annual Fall Career Fair searching for the best and brightest ND has to offer. For seniors, the real world came knocking at the door and demanding you make a career choice. Although this is an opportunity to ensure someone reads your resume, often students over-exaggerate the importance of this day. What ever happened to graduating from college and entering the job market? I’m going to be working for the next 50 years, why do I have start a year early?

Although people say the career fair is a great opportunity to lock up a job early, I believe the career fair is the worst possible opportunity to find a job. We’re paying nearly $50,000 a year for a degree from a top 20 college, so why shouldn’t I apply for jobs in the collective job market where I can use a ND degree to my advantage? Instead, we compete amongst ourselves in an incredibly competitive environment.  It's like friendly fire.

With that said, it’s obvious why many students dread the career fair. That is, until you actually talk to a company’s representative and realize the reality of the career fair. All you do is have an incredibly forced conversation with an employee that was standing in your shoes 2 years ago, just to hand them your resume in person. I find it really awkward staring into someone’s eyes like a psychopath while the only thing on my mind during these conversations is when to insert the perfect “Ahh”, “Uh-huhs”, and “Gotchyas.” It’s impossible for these conversations to even resemble comfortable or normal human interaction.
 

The best part about the career fair has nothing to do with job opportunities. It’s seeing the typical long-haired, binge-drinking, slacker gel back his hair and attempt to assimilate into the corporate world. Some students look hilariously out of place in this environment and spotting them is the best way to overcome any nerves. At least you aren’t as ridiculous as that guy. I’d like to personally take credit for being one of those guys who put the rest of the students more at ease in this stressful environment.

Cheers Guys!