Cal Poly Humboldt to Host Career Expo and Volunteer Fair Feb. 12

More than 60 employers and community organizations are on campus today for Cal Poly Humboldt’s Career Expo & Volunteer Fair, offering students direct access to jobs, internships, summer work and volunteer roles. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the West Gym of the Recreation & Wellness Center and is open to students of all majors and class levels.

Organized by the Career Development Center in collaboration with the Center for Community-Based Learning, the fair is designed to support career exploration, professional development and community engagement. J.D. Garza, director of the Career Development Center, put the mission plainly: "The Career Expo &Volunteer Fair is a long-standing event that helps students see what’s possible during their time at Cal Poly Humboldt and after!" He added more detail on the mix of opportunities available: "At this event, participants will have the opportunity to explore paid employment opportunities, internships, and volunteer experiences. It is a great place to build professional connections and to engage with employers before and after graduation!"

Students who attend can expect a crowded floor of booths and recruiters representing a range of sectors. Organizers say the fair will feature networking opportunities aimed at connecting students to post-graduation careers as well as short-term and seasonal positions and hands-on internships. Career Development Center staff encourage students to arrive prepared with resume print-outs and questions for employers to maximize those conversations.

The event also offers on-site services to help students present themselves professionally. Free, studio-style professional headshots will be available from an on-site photographer, intended for updating LinkedIn profiles and other professional platforms. Students are encouraged to dress professionally; free attire is available by appointment through the campus Career Clothing Closet. The Career Development Center will follow the fair with a series of resume-refresh sessions in March and April, during which staff and faculty will review students’ resumes and offer workshops and one-on-one guidance.

For practical planning, the fair takes place inside the West Gym at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Recreation & Wellness Center on the Arcata campus. The university’s main number is (707) 826-3011; Marketing and Communications can be reached at 826.3390 for questions about campus events. The university’s physical address is 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521.

For local students, the fair is a concentrated way to turn classroom learning into local work and volunteer experience and to begin building the professional networks that matter in Humboldt County’s mixed public-sector and nonprofit job market. Those who miss today’s event can take advantage of upcoming resume workshops and the Career Development Center’s prep services to show up ready for future recruiting opportunities.