College of the Desert hosted its annual Career Fest Spring Career and Internship Fair on March 4. The event took place at the Palm Desert campus Multi-Agency Library and gave COD students the opportunity to network and connect with more than 30 programs and employers.
Students attending the fair visited booths where they spoke with representatives from local businesses and organizations, including the Coachella Valley Water District, KESQ News Channel 3, the city of Indio, the city of Cathedral City, Palm Springs Unified School District and Eisenhower Health, to learn about employment opportunities.
Additional booths provided information about COD programs, including nursing and architecture and construction management.
Upon entering the fair, attendees received a ticket redeemable for a free Luigi’s SlushLife shaved ice cup outside the library.
The event featured music by COD professor and COD Roadrunner Radio station manager Scott Colwell.
Many of the businesses and organizations at the Spring Career Fest have appeared in previous COD career and internship fairs and maintain close partnerships with the college and its students.
Eisenhower Health recruitment specialist Breck Buccola and RN nursing recruiter Kaitlin Nilsson spoke about how COD students work with the hospital.
Buccola said many College of the Desert nursing students transition into Eisenhower’s nurse residency program and become nurses there, and Nilsson added that career fairs are one way for nursing students to receive important information as they begin their careers.
“It’s always fun to talk to college students, and it’s so nice to share news about upcoming Eisenhower program timelines and get them up to date on those deadlines so they’re prepared,” Nilsson said.
Crystal Harrell, KESQ News Channel 3 senior promotions producer, helped run KESQ’s booth at the fair and said career fairs like COD’s are important for introducing students of all ages to opportunities within their own communities.
“Having a place where local businesses and organizations can provide resources and contact information for students is really beneficial, and it gives them an open door to opportunities they might not otherwise have,” Harrell said.
College of the Desert hosts career and internship fairs each fall and spring semester.
For more information about upcoming career fairs and workshops, and to learn more about student employment services and opportunities, visit the Career and Workforce Solutions Center at the Palm Desert campus.
