News
Maria Richart

At the university-wide career fair on Wednesday, representatives from 108 companies and the military met with students hoping to land a co-op next year, or a full-time position. More than 1,200 students attended the fair in the first hour.

Although they may not be shaking hands this year, Rochester Institute of Technology students will once again be making in-person connections with potential employers for spring co-ops and full-time employment as the university-wide career fair is held Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Gordon Field House.

Students on co-op are picking up more than occupational and professional skills. As the pandemic unfolded last spring and summer, they saw firsthand how companies manage even in the midst of a crisis.

RIT students are still making connections for spring co-ops and full-time employment, even though they can’t physically meet company recruiters this semester due to COVID-19 travel and gathering restrictions.

Friday’s celebration of the Class of 2020 certainly cannot replace the atmosphere of a traditional commencement, which RIT plans to host on campus when it’s deemed safe. But many of graduates say they won’t let the pandemic, or the circumstances surrounding the virtual celebration, define them or their feelings about their time at RIT. (Pictured: Bradley Speck, who will finish his classes online this summer, has a job waiting for him at GE Aviation in Cincinnati, where he completed four co-ops.)

Twice a year, on the afternoon before RIT’s campus-wide career fairs, a reverse career fair of sorts is held, where students from diverse organizations set up tables where they can talk about their talents and career aspirations.

Nearly 240 companies searching for skilled employees are expected at RIT’s 2020 Spring Career Fair on Wednesday. More than 4,000 students and alumni typically attend the Spring Career Fair.

Intersections: The RIT Podcast, Ep. 23: A paid, full-time work experience, co-op gives students a real-life taste of work in their chosen field. Maria Richart, director of RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education, talks with student Wil Seifried about how students can make the most of their co-op opportunities.