by Kayla Smith
Career fairs offer college students more than opportunities to find jobs and internships. They also allow students to explore career paths, meet potential employers and practice the professional skills they will need after graduation.
Oklahoma Baptist University students received that opportunity during the Career and Internship Fair held Sept. 29 in the Geiger Center.
More than 20 employers representing a variety of industries participated in the event, which was open to students of all majors.
The fair was especially useful for sophomores, juniors and seniors seeking employment, internships and professional connections.
However, freshmen were also encouraged to attend and practice networking in a low-pressure environment.
Lori Hagans, director of career services, said students should prepare for career fairs by considering how they dress, researching participating organizations and bringing updated resumes.
“They need to be dressed appropriately,” Hagans said. “That means if they don’t have dress clothes, it still needs to be something nice. You dress for success.”
Students did not necessarily need expensive business attire, but Hagans advised them to avoid casual clothing such as athleisure, hoodies, sweatpants and pajama pants. Wearing the most professional items available could help students make a stronger first impression.
Preparation also involved researching companies before speaking with their representatives.
Hagans said students should learn basic information about the employers that interested them.
Even knowing how to pronounce an organization’s name and understanding its mission could demonstrate genuine interest.
Students were also encouraged to look beyond the industries they normally associated with their majors.
Many organizations employed people from a wide range of academic backgrounds.
For example, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services might initially have appeared most relevant to psychology or counseling majors. However, the department also sought students studying accounting, finance, public administration and political science.
“Some entities or some businesses are going to employ a wide range of majors,” Hagans said.
“So, knowing the organization, researching to see what all they have available—it’s an opportunity to be looking at other opportunities as well.”
The Sept. 29 fair included representatives from fields such as health care, education, finance, accounting, ministry, law enforcement, government and nonprofit service.
Participating organizations included MidFirst Bank, SSM Health, Shawnee Public Schools, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Tinker Air Force Base and the American Red Cross.
Students interested in attending career fairs were also advised to update and print copies of their resumes.
Hagans recommended SkillsFirst, an online resource available through OBU that assists students with writing and improving resumes.
Professional behavior mattered as well. Students could distinguish themselves by greeting employers with a handshake, introducing themselves politely and briefly explaining their majors and career interests.
Career preparation extended beyond a single event.
Throughout their time at OBU, students developed knowledge and skills through their classes, professors and campus experiences.
Career fairs gave them a place to apply those skills while learning more about potential professions.
Even students who were not ready to apply for a position could benefit from attending.
Speaking with employers allowed them to practice networking, discover unexpected career options and better understand what organizations look for in applicants.
By attending career fairs before their senior year, students could become more comfortable in professional settings and begin building relationships that might help them later.
Regardless of their majors or classifications, students willing to introduce themselves and ask questions could leave better prepared for their future careers. Check out the Bison for future career fairs!
Photo credit: Courtesy Photo/The Bison
Photo caption: File photo from 2025 Career Fair showing students talk with potential employers; taken from OBU Marketing and Communications.
