Fair at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif., on April
19, 2023. Photo by Jay Abril
Students looking for internships, part-time or full-time jobs had more than 80 options lined up in booths throughout the Pierce College Mall on Wednesday, at the Career and Transfer Center’s Job and Internship Fair.
Jobs ranged from the child care and healthcare fields to law enforcement and even landscaping. The wide variety allowed students seeking employment to find something that fits their interests and schedule, while equipping them with the needed experiences to land career jobs in the future.
The Burbank Police Department, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Ford Motor Company were among some of the many employers who anticipated student sign-ups for various positions.
Pierce counselor Judy Lam helped oversee the event.
Lam believes in the importance of gaining experiences outside of school, and hoped students would consider getting that enrichment in addition to their studies.
“A lot of students are so focused on just school that they forget to gain experiences and so you have to build your resume while you’re still in school,” Lam said. “You want to always make sure you’re gaining experience because it helps you make a decision about what you want to do. Taking classes doesn’t necessarily give you a good sense of what careers might look like.”
Lam saw the event as a great way to engage with students who are pondering about their career choices.
“Today’s job and internship fair is to help students be more plugged in, more engaged, gain experience so that we can help them decide on their careers and majors,” Lam said.
Pierce has been dedicated to helping students succeed in career endeavors outside of school, as seen by the services provided by the Career and Transfer Center.
“Last week, we actually had a resume review prep event,” Lam said. “We had students come in then we had industry professionals look over student resumes so that they can be prepared for today.”
The Southern California Golf Association (SCGA), based in Studio City, was one of many employers who offered job opportunities for students.
Lauren Fesler, assistant director at SCGA’s San Fernando Valley division, encouraged those who are interested in coaching junior golfers to see if the job is right for them. For those not too keen on golfing, SCGA had administrative roles available.
“There’s a wide variety of options open,” Fesler said. “Even some of our coaches that don’t play golf still serve as mentors and role models for the kids in our community. I think somebody would get a fun and positive work environment here.”
The Sierra Canyon Day Camp also looked to recruit students, especially those who are good at working with children or are working towards a degree in the education field.
Counselor-in-training (CIT) manager Arianna Romero said that besides the age requirement of 18 years old, there aren’t any other specific requirements to work as a camp counselor.
“This can potentially be a good work experience for your resume, especially if you’re in the education field,” Romero said. “We have several of our alumni who started working here and are now teachers.”
Meanwhile, journalism major Diana Garret eyed an internship in the healthcare field to assist in her nursing minor. She found an internship that would allow her to work in a hospital–something right up her alley.
“I am a caregiver, so I was looking for an internship at one of the booths where I can work in a hospital,” Garret said. “I think I’ll be entering that because I’ll be working at a hospital which I’ve never done. So I’m going beyond where I’m at and this (job fair) has given everyone an opportunity to do that.”
Garret said that going to the many different booths gave her a good understanding of what job she would be interested in.
“This has given me an opportunity to step beyond what I’m doing now,” Garret said. “It’s given me more information so I can do more things that I’m trying to accomplish.”
Fitting with the job theme of the day, the Brahma Career Closet had set up rows of button-downs, blouses and pants to help students in need of professional attire be job and interview-ready.
Throughout the morning, student worker Diane Genabe already assisted a few students in taking home some clothing. She hoped to help others in finding the pieces they needed.
“The Brahma Career Closet offers free professional clothing for all students who need attire for internships, job interviews or any future career jobs,” Genabe said.
For varying reasons, many students might not have the appropriate clothing for an interview when trying to land a job.
Genabe explained the importance of dressing your best when applying for a job to better the chances of getting hired.
“Dressing well is really important because it makes a first impression with your interviewer. It shows that you are professional and you are taking your position seriously,” Genabe said. “We hope that students take advantage of this program so that they get to see the clothes we offer, get to take some clothes home and hopefully wear them in their future job endeavors.”
The Brahma Career Closet runs on donated clothes given by the community, including Pierce students and faculty. They offer different sizes and styles to fit anyone’s needs.
Students who wish to have their questions on career-related matters should visit the Career and Transfer Center in the Student Services Building for guidance as well as a chance to meet with a counselor.
