by Teal Greyhavens
STAFF WRITER

“What do you want to do after college?”

Some already know the answer to that question. But for others, it provokes hesitation—even fear—at the prospect of finding a job that suits their interests.

Yet, on Feb. 14, Whitman’s Career and Internship Fair gave those students a chance to find out. Twenty-eight organizations, from the Chicago Center to Rite Aid, filled out the Reid Ballroom in hopes of attracting employees. Although the career fair didn’t seem to pull in many students, Career Center director Susan Buchanan thought it helped them get motivated in the search for a career or an internship before they graduate from college.

“It serves two purposes,” Buchanan said. “One is that employers are interested in Whitman students because they have a good relationship with the college and they know that the students are bright, motivated and capable. The fair provides students with the opportunity to introduce themselves to potential employers.

“The other is that it acts as an educational experience for those students wanting to get a job or an internship during the summer. The hope with that is that they will begin to craft their own resume or show an interest in something that has the potential to become a future career.”

Marianne Young, an employment manager and training and development specialist at Coffey Communications, Inc., agreed with Buchanan’s sentiment. As a representative of one of the businesses on display at the Career and Internship Fair, Young said, “We’ve had great success hiring Whitman and Walla Walla students, and many of them have expressed interest in full-time work at our firm.”

Some of the students who participated in the fair, though, felt that the job opportunities were either limited or not appealing.

“[The fair] is a good idea,” said first-year Anne Roberts, who looked at possible work with the Peace Corps. “I don’t think I’m drawn to any of the other companies on display though.”

First-year Kati Kallins expressed a similar disinterest in the Career and Internship Fair. “I think it’s good for students looking for something to do in the future, but some of the jobs seem a bit useless,” said Kallins.

Whitman College students who missed the fair on Wednesday but are still interested will be able to participate in an Electronic Career Fair from Feb. 26 to Mar. 16.