Never too early to network

Even as a first-year student in his first semester at Bloomsburg University, Mitchell Ellero wasn’t going to wait on taking advantage of this month’s Diversity and Inclusion Career Expo, hosted by the Office of Alumni and Professional Engagement.

“Stop waiting, start networking right away,” said Ellero, a finance major. “Business is like a system in the sense that building connections helps you get where you need to go. Take advantage of what lies ahead of you.”

Ellero was among nearly 100 students who recently networked with just under 30 employers recruiting on campus for a variety of positions. The Diversity and Inclusion Career Expo was the first of four differently themed expos to be held this spring, courtesy of Professional U.

Recruitment efforts of this past expo were focused on diversifying their workforce. Opportunities ranged from internships to full-time employment, according to Lauren Kross Polinski, BU’s professional development manager.

“As a freshman entering the expo, I was not expecting more than kind greetings and potentially a note or two about how to better prepare myself through college,” Ellero said. “Instead, I found myself networking with a number of companies and learning about internships that could be completed this coming summer.”