Opportunity Knocks: Monroe University Students Look to Make Career Moves at Part-Time Job Fair

Monroe students came ready to impress at our recent Part-Time Job Fair with resumes in hand and big career dreams in mind. Held at Hotel NoMa, more than 140 students lined up at the fair, eager for the chance to land a part-time job, internship, or volunteer opportunity with one of the 30 employers on site.

Held twice a year, this wasn’t just any job fair—it was more like a launchpad for participating students. Monroe’s Career Services team pulls out all the stops to make sure students walk in prepared and walk out one step closer to their career goals.

“We guide each student through the job search process step by step, ensuring they’re fully prepared to secure employment,” said Senior Vice President of Corporate and Community Outreach Pamela DellaPorta Lieberman.

She added: “No one ever told me how to get a job, and for first-generation college students, this is invaluable. We walk them through the ‘ABCs’ to make sure they can be successful at these events and out in the world beyond their Monroe experience."

Monroe students don’t just show up—they show up ready. Before the event, they’ve worked on their elevator pitches, had multiple rounds of resume reviews, and gone through mock interviews. Career Services even offers Job Fair Prep Workshops, including one designed specifically for international students.

And let’s talk about confidence—because looking the part matters, too. For students who don’t have professional attire, Monroe’s Career Closet, stocked with button-ups, blazers, and businesswear, is there to help.

“Some students simply don’t have interview attire, and they may not have the funds to go out and buy some,” Lieberman explained. “That’s when we send them to our Career Closet.”

For students like Akira Paris Thomas, an international student from St. Vincent and The Grenadines, the job fair was more than just a networking opportunity—it was a stepping stone. Working toward her Master of Business Management, Analytics, and Information Technology degree, Akira came dressed for success, determined to find an internship that would challenge her and help her grow.

“My goal is to win over an organization and get an internship with them,” she said. “This is my second time at a Monroe job fair, and I really think they’re good events. I feel good about the potential for opportunity here.”

She’s not alone. Career Services Coordinator Cathy Carbonelli, who was on-site helping students, sees the value in these events firsthand.

“We coach them to do this event so they can be successful here. It’s a wonderful event,” she said. “We encourage them to talk to every single one of these organizations because you just never know when the right opportunity might pop up.”

Those opportunities are real—one organization at this job fair alone planned to invite 20 Monroe students for on-site interviews.

The connections go beyond new students, too. Many employers at the fair were Monroe alumni who know exactly what it’s like to be in these students’ shoes. Flo Ellis, Manager of Volunteer Services for the SBH Health System and a proud Monroe grad, was there looking for students to fill the role of Patient Ambassador.

“Part of me being here is to find volunteers but also to be of service to our patient community,” she said. “We know students want to volunteer, and opportunities like this help them with communicating on a human level. It helps make patients feel seen and heard.”

For students in their first or second semester, the job fair is just the beginning. As they progress, they take on bigger, more significant internships, leading up to a final-semester experience that closely aligns with their area of study.

The results speak for themselves. Ms. Lieberman notes that a solid number of Monroe students land full-time jobs after their internships. Even if they don’t get a job right away, Monroe’s Career Services remains a lifelong resource, offering job boards, professional development workshops, career assessments, and more.

The next Career Services fair at Monroe is set for Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in the Mintz Auditorium from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monroe students and alumni who register, complete their profile on Handshake, and dress professionally are welcome to participate.

At Monroe, no student has to navigate their career journey alone. Whether they’re looking for their first part-time job or stepping into their dream career, Monroe’s Career Services team is there every step of the way.