Over 100 different companies and workplace representatives attended Point Park’s Internship and Job Fair on Sept. 28 which offered students the chance to meet with prospective employers and network with others in similar fields.

Angela Scaramucci, director of the Career Development Center, said the event is the Center’s way of connecting students to the world outside of Point Park.

“Networking is key in getting an internship or job,” Scaramucci said in the Student Center on Thursday. “So the fact that you can actually meet a recruiter in person, get a business card, connect with them on Linkedin, it really helps your chances because then when they see your resume when you apply for something, they’re going to remember you from our fair.”

The Internship and Job Fair has aided Point Park students and alumni for eight years. There are two fairs every year: one in the fall, and another in the spring.

There were 112 different employers in attendance, offering volunteer opportunities and internships for students of all majors. On average, between 250 and 350 students take advantage of this opportunity every time it’s held.

Scaramucci encourages students to go to the semi-annual job fair even if they think it is early for an internship. She advises students to start getting involved as early as possible, even as early as freshman year.

Scaramucci said that sophomore or junior year is a great time to start pursuing one or even multiple internships.

Graham Mulqueen is a community organizer with A+ Schools, an education advocacy group focusing on educational equity. A+ Schools has participated at the fair for several years, and there’s a reason they keep coming back.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to engage with students,” Mulqueen said Thursday during the fair. “We think that getting college kids involved with public education advocacy is really important because this is the building block of society.”

Tyler-Paige Weiss, a freshman cinema production major, said finding internships on her own hasn’t been easy, since most of the internship positions are for sophomore students or older. Weiss explained why she thought internships were such an important asset for someone like her in an interview on Thursday.

“To me, it’s all about experience,” Weiss said. “I think the more personal experience you have, the better you are off in whatever career that you choose… reading about it is one thing, but when you’re hands on in the field it’s something different.”

After Thursday’s fair, Weiss was hopeful.

“I’m really looking forward to being able to connect with different companies and people and get my name out there,” Weiss said.