By Mackenzie Prince

From career fairs to recruiting events, University of Maryland students take advantage of the self-marketing opportunities that the institution offers. However, this leads underclassmen to question if these events are truly helpful for them, as they have often yet to build the expected experience. 

Sara Rooney, a freshman journalism major, attended her first career fair on Oct. 25. The event was held by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism and encouraged students of all ages to meet with recruiters and market their abilities. 

“I was able to meet so many really nice recruiters, I was able to connect with lots of people on LinkedIn, and I received a lot of valuable information about internships later down the line,” Rooney said. “It really helped me get my foot in the door as a freshman.” 

Rooney said she gained the most experience from speaking with UMD alumni, where she was able to learn about their Merrill experiences and shape her own to accomplish her goals in the future.  

Karen Denny, the Director of Internships and Career Services for Merrill College, described the success of the event, with 200 students and 32 organizations in attendance. She also emphasized the importance of underclassmen taking advantage of these opportunities. 

“It’s great to go when you’re in your first year because next time, you know what to expect,” Denny said. “It’s an opportunity for them to experience [a professional environment] without a lot of pressure.”

Some students outside the journalism school have taken advantage of the career fairs offered and had different results. 

Claire Ryan, a sophomore marketing major, attended one of the career fairs offered by UMD this past year. While she was able to practice professional and communication skills, she felt the event was disorganized due to the number of people in attendance. 

“I know everyone has different schedules, but maybe it can be organized in a way where upperclassmen and underclassmen go at separate times,” Ryan said. 

Other students felt that their own lack of expertise as an underclassman plagued their time. 

Ava Bond, a sophomore finance major, described her experience as “overwhelming,” with the career fair being the first time she had to market herself to professional organizations. 

“Not many people were looking for my age range or skill range in their industry,” Bond said. “I was able to talk to one of the recruiters from TD Bank and we connected on LinkedIn, which was helpful.”

Upperclassmen and underclassmen value the possibilities that career fairs have to offer. Despite one’s lack of experience and larger crowds, these events allow students to make connections with companies and practice their personal marketing skills.  

“The recruiters are there to talk to everybody,” Denny said. “They want to get the best people one day, and sometimes, that means speaking with underclassmen and building [relationships].”