By Norman Peckham

Arizona Daily Wildcat

About 100 employers will be at ASU's Student Union this Saturday looking to hire students for jobs ranging from marketing to managing fast-food restaurants.

The event is part of the Arizona Collegiate Job Fair, co-sponsored by the three Arizona universities, DeVry Institute, Embry Riddle College and Grand Canyon College, said Cynthia Watson, University of Arizona's Career Services Placement coordinator.

The event, which will start at 9 a.m., is the first statewide job fair to be held by the participating universities, Watson said. The fair is free and only open to students and graduates from the schools.

"We thought students could use a job fair because it's spring and it's the season (when students look for jobs)," she said.

Although the UA holds "Career Week" every fall, Watson said this fair will be different because employers will interview students to hire them.

"They meet you and if they're interested in you, they will interview you right there," she said. She said students should dress up and bring copies of their resum‚ with them.

"Mainly, we're looking for students who are career oriented and who have a college degree," said Jim Herendeen, store manager for Rent-a-Center at 93 E. Southern Ave., in Tempe.

Herendeen said he wants to hire students who will be getting degrees in marketing or business.

Cyndi Woodring, recruitment coordinator for Prudential Insurance Co. in Phoenix, said she has 20 job positions open in sales and marketing for students.

Fast food restaurants will also be making a show at the job fair, in part, because Northern Arizona University has a "hospitality program," in which students learn how to manage restaurants and hotels.

Trisha Williams, regional human resources manager for Whataburger Restaurants, said the restaurant has hired several graduates from NAU's program.

"But we'll hire college graduates from almost any field, because that simply tells us that they have a willingness to learn and to move up the career ladder," she said.

Some UA students said having such enterprises at the fair is a good idea.

"Well, if you can't find a job in the career you want, you've got to find a job somewhere," said Joshua Minyard, a geological engineering senior.

Still, other students said they can do better things with their degrees.

"I think you could do more than (work in fast food) with a college degree," said Brandon Guertner, a graphic design sophomore. Read Next Article