'Boutique' Job Fair Delivers Small Setting, Big Opportunities
Mandy Grawl '27, a computer science major, speaks with a representative from The Hershey Company about internship opportunities during the inaugural Career Connections fair. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
Students connect with potential employers during inaugural event
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
You may have heard of boutique shops, goods and services, but what about a boutique job fair? As students who attended last Tuesday’s event can tell you, these small-batch gatherings can be more enjoyable and helpful than a run-of-the-mill fair.
That's the idea behind Dickinson’s new Career Connections series. The inaugural event, held Sept. 9, brought students together with employers in the central Pennsylvania region.
Like all job fairs, it offered a chance to speak with reps from various companies, explore career paths and opportunities and build professional contacts. Unlike traditional fairs, which can present a dizzying array of company displays, it was open solely to a curated group of employers. That smaller setting created a more focused and engaging experience for students, says Andrea Lazarus, the Center for Career Development's director of employer relations.
“This is less overwhelming, and students are able to have more in-depth conversations with the representatives,” Lazarus explains. “That has the added benefit of helping students to really practice their networking skills.”
Students from all class years and majors were invited to speak individually with representatives from 10 organizations.
For Melanie Duong ’26, a double major in international business & management (IB&M) and data analytics, it was a welcome opportunity to hone professional communication skills while growing her local network. And the regional focus was a big plus for IB&M major Matthew Seager ’27. “I want to be more engaged in the local community,” Seager says, “so it’s good to learn about the businesses in the region that I could support.”
Stella Gladson ’27, a political science and religion double major, came to explore internships and careers in advocacy and law. She emerged with leads about promising opportunities in both of those areas.
And students such as these made an impression on the pros. “They’re coming in well-prepared, with their resumes in hand, and they’re asking really great questions,” notes Angie Meyers, director of talent at the Hershey Company. She has a strong basis for comparison, as she speaks with countless students each year about the approximately 400 internships Hershey offers annually.
Computer science major Mandy Grawl ’28 wasn't sure what to expect, but she took advantage of the chance to meet with professionals in different fields. Grawl was rewarded with new contacts and information about available computer science internships and job opportunities.
“It’s been a very positive experience,” Grawl says. “I’m so happy I came here.”
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Published September 10, 2025