University career fair brings together thousands of students and hundreds of companies to create valuable employment connections

Rochester, New York – As the sun rose over the Rochester Institute of Technology campus on October 8, a wave of anticipation filled the Gordon Field House. Students dressed in their best professional attire lined up outside the doors, resumes in hand, waiting for the chance to take the next big step in their career journeys. The University-wide Career Fair, one of RIT’s largest networking events of the year, brought together thousands of ambitious students and more than 230 companies from across the country — all under one roof with a shared goal: connection.

For second-year industrial and systems engineering student Cassidy Ryan, the morning couldn’t come soon enough. The moment the doors opened, she made her way directly to the National Grid booth. Ryan had two motivations — to greet Erika Sullivan, an RIT alumna and fellow sorority sister now working for the company, and to land a co-op position that could jumpstart her career in engineering.

“I’m nervous, but I’m looking forward to showing people who I am and what I’m capable of,” said Ryan, a Carmel, N.Y. native, clutching her resume as she smiled at the sea of recruiters and students filling the venue.

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The fair, a long-standing RIT tradition, represents more than just a networking opportunity. It’s a living bridge between the classroom and the workplace — where students like Ryan transform academic knowledge into professional potential.

Sullivan, who graduated in 2024 with a degree in electrical engineering technology, returned to campus this year not as a student but as one of 250 alumni recruiters. Now an associate engineer in distribution, planning, and asset management at National Grid, Sullivan said her role allows her to make a tangible difference.

“What I do really matters, and that’s so important to me,” she said. “The top-notch education that I received at RIT, along with the leadership skills that I gained through my involvement in Greek life, have helped give me the job and life that I have.”

Sullivan’s story was echoed across the fair — alumni returning to recruit new talent, students exploring new industries, and employers eager to find the next generation of innovators.

According to Maria Richart, director of RIT’s Career Services and Cooperative Education, this year’s fair stood out not only for its size but for the breadth of industries represented. After several years marked by cautious hiring trends, many companies that had scaled back recruitment are now back on campus in full force.

“I’m seeing that today’s tech companies are recruiting students with expertise in supply chain management and distribution, along with the more traditional technology positions,” said Richart. “RIT is training our students to be marketable and to be able to pivot where they’re most needed. Companies know they can find what they need here.”

One of those students preparing to meet industry demand is Alexandria Young, a second-year software engineering major from Westchester County, N.Y. For her, the fair offered a chance to showcase her growing skill set in software development and full-stack programming.

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“I would love to work for IBM but, if that doesn’t work out, I’ll continue looking for other experiential learning opportunities that will help build my portfolio,” Young said confidently. With experience in languages like Python, C++, and Java, and side projects in memory management software, she’s already building a resume that stands out to recruiters.

The fair’s energy was electric, with conversations flowing across booths representing national powerhouses like Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Disney, and General Dynamics Mission Systems, as well as smaller regional firms offering internships and co-op opportunities.

This year, RIT’s Career Services and Cooperative Education office added a new tradition: honoring companies that have gone above and beyond in supporting RIT students. General Dynamics Mission Systems, D3 Embedded, Disney, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell were recognized for their continued engagement, from mock interviews and mentoring to sponsoring clubs and academic initiatives.

Among those recognized, Honeywell stood out for its consistent involvement with students year-round. Paul Wisotzke, a 1988 RIT alumnus with a degree in business management and now a senior engineering program manager at Honeywell, has made it a personal mission to maintain close ties with the university.

“The students recognize that we are here to support them and to help them succeed,” said Wisotzke. “We’re demonstrating the behaviors that are important in the workplace and are finding that students are clamoring to join our company because of that. We keep hiring RIT students because they are often the top talent.”

Beyond the fair itself, RIT’s national reputation continues to draw employers seeking skilled, adaptable graduates. The university, ranked No. 88 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges and No. 5 nationally for co-ops and internships, has long been recognized for its strong emphasis on experiential learning. That reputation is part of what drives companies to return year after year, knowing that RIT students bring both technical expertise and hands-on problem-solving experience.

For students like Ryan and Young, that reputation means opportunity — not just for employment, but for growth, learning, and connection.

As the afternoon wound down and the crowd began to thin, Ryan took a deep breath, reflecting on the conversations she’d had throughout the day. Whether or not she lands her dream co-op right away, she said, the experience of meeting recruiters and building relationships has already been invaluable.

“I think what matters most is showing that you care and that you’re ready to learn,” she said. “Even if it takes a few tries, I know that what I’m doing here today is going to make a difference later.”

For many students, the career fair marks the beginning of that journey — a reminder that opportunity often starts with a single handshake, a shared story, or the courage to take the first step toward a dream.