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Bailey Thompson<\/strong> | News Editor<\/span><\/p>\n After inviting recruiters to participate in Western\u2019s annual Career and Grad School Fair, the staff at Service Learning and Career Development was eager to welcome students to engage with members of their community on Nov. 7. Inside the Pacific Room, 55 different organizations set up booths with flyers, business cards, and merchandise from their organizations \u2014 ultimately hoping students would come to them with inquiries and interest.<\/span><\/p>\n The Career and Grad School Fair is organized each year by Jennifer Hansen, the Career Development Coordinator at SLCD. Hansen reaches out to all of the employers who are currently associated with the university, then they are able to sign up to participate.<\/span><\/p>\n At the fair, a variety of fields \u2014 including law enforcement, education, health services, business and more \u2014 had recruiters who were excited to speak with students about their organizations. <\/span><\/p>\n Waiting to help students check-in, senior psychology major and SLCD Peer Career Advisor Ashley Johnston shared why this event continues to be hosted each year at Western.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs we\u2019ve been doing this more and more, we find that it\u2019s super beneficial and that the students have given great feedback,\u201d said Johnston. She added that, In the past, students have \u201cmet someone they eventually got a job with or (learned about) grad schools they didn\u2019t know about.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n When asked what was the most beneficial thing that students could take away from this event, Johnston replied without hesitation: networking.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNetworking is huge \u2014 I think it\u2019s the biggest thing,\u201d said Johnston. Related to this, she emphasized how important it is to have the skill set \u201cto talk to someone and make a face-to-face contact because a lot of people don\u2019t do that. And it\u2019s hard to do that outside of school, too, which is why it\u2019s really important that it\u2019s here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Johnston stated that going to the Career and Grad School Fair gives students the chance to build connections in a manner that would be easier than if they were to approach these companies and schools elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeople are here to talk to them specifically,\u201d said Johnston. \u201cThey\u2019re meant to be networking, so they don\u2019t have to work as hard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, Johnston wanted Western students to realize that there are number of reasons why employers are interested in hiring students, so there is no need to be scared to talk with them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEmployers want (students) to reach out,\u201d said Johnston. \u201cI know we\u2019re younger\u2026but students are really beneficial employees in a lot of ways \u2014 fresh minds, being able to learn,\u201d etc.<\/span><\/p>\n