The 2003 spring Career Fair, hosted by Career Services, was held yesterday in the Simon Recreation Center, from noon to 4:30 p.m. The fair, attended by both students and alumni, was a chance to find a job, as well as network with various companies.

The event is designed to give students and alumni looking for full-time jobs, summer jobs or internships the chance to learn more about available career opportunities. It is also an opportunity to practice skills needed in the professional world, as well as to make contacts that may eventually lead to a career.

This semester’s fair featured nearly 80 different businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations. Among those in attendance were Boeing, AmeriCorps, Edward Jones, the Internal Revenue Service, the Peace Corps, University of Missouri-Columbia, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, the U.S. Navy, Anheuser-Busch and Xavier University.

While some students went to the event to find that perfect career, others went merely to scope out the possibilities and see what kinds of jobs are available to students.

“I was a little disappointed with the (small) number of companies there that were looking for students with an arts and sciences background,” said Julie Hagen, a senior looking for a career in graphic design or marketing. “They should just call it the Business School Career Fair.”

Hagen, who is graduating in May, gave out a total of two resumes and left the fair a little skeptical about her future.

“I know the career fair is not representative of everything that is out there, but it seems like if you’re not a business major, you might as well not even try to find a job.”

Upcoming events sponsored by Career Services include the Social Service Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Early Bird Education Networking Fair on Thursday, Feb. 6, the Gateway Career Services Association Career Fair in Collinsville, Ill., on Wednesday, Feb. 19, “Deciding is OK” on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and the Health Career Fair on Thursday, March 27.