Cleveland State University’s Student Center was filled to capacity earlier this month as nearly 100 employers and organizations gathered for the annual Spring Career Fair, sponsored by the Cleveland Guardians.

Organized by the Division of Student Belonging and Success’ Office of Career Development and Exploration, the event featured 95 organizations across a wide range of industries, highlighting the university’s focus on preparing students for life after graduation while strengthening connections to Northeast Ohio’s workforce.

For Jeffrey Johnston, Ph.D., associate vice president for student excellence, leadership and involvement in the Division of Student Belonging and Success, the event was more than a networking opportunity — it served as a strategic bridge between classroom learning and career pathways. 

“We want to bring employers from Northeast Ohio to connect with our students,” said Johnston. “We want to ensure students understand the opportunities available and how they can connect their coursework, internships and professional goals to their experience at CSU.”

This year’s fair included a new addition: CSU’s graduate colleges. In addition to job and internship opportunities, students explored master’s and doctoral programs, broadening their view of postgraduation pathways.

With hundreds of students in attendance, the event required months of coordination, as CSU’s Office of Career Development and Exploration partnered with employer relations staff and graduate assistants to conduct outreach through Handshake and targeted marketing efforts, while organizing employers by industry to help students easily explore opportunities within their areas of interest.

“We have a wonderful team,” said Johnston. “They have been hosting and working with the career fair for a number of years, so they're kind of like a well-oiled machine to understand what the needs are.” 

Upon arrival, students received a map and a passport encouraging them to connect with at least six employers. Completed passports were entered into a drawing for major prizes, including fall tuition coverage, $500 bookstore gift cards, $500 dining cards and Division of Student Belonging and Success merchandise.

“It’s fun notifying the students of what they’ve won because part of the Career Fair passport is meeting that responsibility to really participate and work with those employers,” said Johnston. “If students make the effort to do it here it’s nice to be able to reward them.” 

Koya Ball, assistant academic coach at CSU, worked alongside university staff to help ensure students arrived prepared and confident when meeting employers.

“We are giving out maps so students know where the employers are located because they’re on all three floors,” said Ball. “We are making sure they have all the resources they need to be successful and secure these internships and jobs.”

Students Embrace Career Fair Resources 

For CSU students Holly Urbanek and Marissa Serafine, both pursuing degrees in Pre-K through 5th grade education, the career fair provided both clarity about their next steps and optimism in their career paths. 

“The career fair has been very positive,” said Urbanek. “There's been a lot of tables that I’ve gone up to in districts, and I'm getting all the information I need, like when the schools are going to be posting their jobs. Everybody's been very nice and welcoming.” 

Serafine said she was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of school districts represented at the career fair. She and her peers credited CSU’s preparation efforts — from résumé reviews to guidance on professional attire — with helping them feel confident and career-ready. 

“I sent my resume and cover letter to the Office of Field Studies at CSU,” said Serafine. “They were very supportive in telling me what I could make stronger on my resume and what they liked about what I already had.” 

Marsalis Hammons, a 2018 CSU graduate and current human resources talent acquisition representative for Sherwin-Williams, credits the university’s career fair with preparing him for his professional journey. He leveraged networking opportunities at the event to secure internships with KeyBank and Parker Hannifin, where he became a Parker Scholar.

“Opportunities and career fairs laid the foundation for me to be able to network and build confidence,” said Hammons. “In a corporate setting, I am able to conduct myself and apply what I learned in the classroom to the real world.”

An Investment in CSU Talent

For employers, the value of face-to-face connection cannot be overstated. Danielle Dubin, coordinator of talent acquisition for the Cleveland Guardians, emphasized the importance of personalized engagement. 

“Social media only goes so far, and building a connection with job seekers in person allows us to share our culture and values while learning what students are looking for,” said Dubin “To get to know about students specifically…and really build that personalized connection with job seekers is crucial.”

Dubin oversees college and university partnerships across Northeast Ohio, building relationships that create early-career pipelines. She seeks candidates who are curious, organized and eager to learn — individuals willing to step outside their comfort zones.

“Attention to detail and customer service skills are two of the key traits that we look for, but we also look for candidates who are interested in learning new skills, being open-minded, and not afraid to step out of their comfort zone,” said Dubin.

Wingspan Care Group was also on hand and echoed the same sentiments, emphasizing the importance of meeting students where they are. The organization regularly recruits CSU psychology majors, social workers and aspiring therapists, offering roles for those passionate about improving mental health outcomes in the community. 

“It’s a great opportunity to talk about who we are and what we do,” said Kristen Matti, talent acquisition specialist. “Sometimes students see a name but don’t fully understand the impact."

Building Cleveland’s Future Workforce 

The underlying theme of the fair highlighted CSU’s broader role in strengthening the region. Caroline Pick represented Cleveland Talent Alliance, an initiative connected to Destination Cleveland, and shared how her work helps students and recent graduates establish roots in the city. 

“Whether they need help with housing, finding a job or connecting with a local within the area, we can help students network and really feel welcomed into the world,” said Pick. 

“We give them resources to make Cleveland feel like home.”