For my networking event I attended the Griff Fair on February 28th that was held in Science Hall. It operated as any job fair usually works with tables of employers spread throughout the building. I saw a lot of students dressed in suits and guessed most of them to be finance or pre-law majors. Going into the Griff Fair I was not expecting to find much that had to do with my field. I’m interested in graphic design and a majority of the businesses that attended the fair, a sea of attorneys, health groups, and human service organizations, did not scream “Hey! We’re in need of graphic designers!” I felt a bit out of place at first with all the employers eyeing me, introducing themselves, with me knowing that my major had nothing to do with their business. It was a bit disappointing at first, the lack of creative services, but I realize that those types of companies that deal directly with design probably are not seeking fresh graduates but designers with more refined skills. I also realize that Canisius College is filled with more finance, health, and law majors than design majors and I wonder if these fairs have a much different turnout at other schools in the area with a larger arts field.
However, I introduced myself to a good amount of the employers I saw and to the ones that approached me I inquired about whether or not they had anything geared toward graphic design. I got a lot of no’s and sorry’s but it was worth a shot to ask and I kindly thanked them for their time. It did surprise me though that I was able to meet a decent handful of companies that had some sort of design area, instead of just a marketing area which a majority had. I knew I would get some good feedback from companies like New Era Cap and the Harbor Center, but it was also refreshing to hear that there were design possibilities with Goldberg Segalla Attorneys, UPS, and IT wholesaler Ingram Micro. Most of the companies were very optimistic about the design opportunities they had, although some of them mentioned that those areas of the company were located in different cities or states.
Overall, it was a very beneficial experience. I was able to meet a lot of nice people who seemed as eager to meet me as I was to meet them. I’m glad I was able to find out more about companies and the possibility of my degree being needed in fields I had not considered before. There was a lot of positive feedback about applying for positions and getting in contact with the individuals I met personally. Bringing several copies of my resume really came in handy, as I was not expecting so many employers to ask for it. The event left me feeling positive about the future and the different choices that are out there.
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