The UA held its largest-ever Wildcat Student Employment Fair on Wednesday morning.

The Student Union Memorial Center Grand Ballroom hosted 75 companies, an expansion from 60 tables at last year’s event, with almost 900 positions available for students, according to Susan Miller-Pinhey, marketing and special careers coordinator for Career Services.

UA students had the opportunity to speak with different employers to market themselves for various part-time jobs in retail, internship opportunities, and more.

“With a better economy, more employers are going to be looking for employees,” Miller-Pinhey said. “More and more local employers are coming out to recruit UA students.”

Plato’s Closet came to campus to find students who might be a
“diamond in the rough,” according to Lindsay Sushill, the store manager.

“We are looking for students who are interested in retail and fashion,” Sushill said. “[Students] can get involved in a field that may help them as a stepping stone for what they are going in a career for.”

Although a majority of students in attendance were simply looking to find a job, others said they were interested in building up their resume and networking with businesses from around town.

“I want to get a feel for what is out there, and if I need a job I will know where to find one,” said Martin Yontz, a general studies sophomore. “Networking is a great benefit from the fair and is also a good way to meet people.”

Along with the fair, Miller-Pinhey said she encourages students to register with the UA Career Services website, which costs $5 per academic year. Registering gives students access to a resume builder and Wildcat JobLink, among other services.

“By registering online, students have more resources available for them,” Miller-Pinhey said. “This helps give students a one-stop shop to get students going with finding a job.”

-Follow Casey Carrillo @carrillo_casey