More than 700 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students filled the Campus Center Ballroom on October 1, for an afternoon of networking and career exploration at the Fall Career Fair. Sponsored by the Mānoa Career Center, the event featured 150 professionals from 75 organizations representing a wide range of industries and career paths.
Kathryn Olomua, human resources administrative assistant for Integrated Facility Services, emphasized the importance of exploration and flexibility when launching a career.
“I think it’s more so letting them understand that even though you have a specific major, you can still step into other fields and gain experience,” she said. When hiring new employees, Olomua added, her company looks for communication, responsibility, passion and flexibility.
Ready to connect, discover
Students came ready to connect. Survey results showed that nearly 80% of attendees spoke with at least three employers, and 95% discovered new career options they had not known about before.
UH Mānoa student Dodie Madriaga said, “I think the career fair allows for a lot of opportunities for me to connect with employers not just in my specific field, but branching out into subfields as well. I also really appreciate everyone’s energy here. They’re always looking for enthusiastic and lively people.”
The fair showcased opportunities across many sectors. At the Bishop Museum booth, Director of HR Maricel Barroga and People Operations Manager Alexis Goodson highlighted openings in areas ranging from institutional advancement and security to malacology science—a position tied to the rediscovery of a snail species unseen in nearly a century.
Goodson said, “The best part about participating in an experience like this is that we surprise a lot of people with how many opportunities we have at the museum.”
Career fairs are among the many ways the career center helps students build essential skills and career readiness—cornerstones of UH Mānoa’s commitment to preparing students for success beyond graduation. This face-to-face engagement among employers and students is an important feature of workforce development initiatives on campus, a core pillar of the UH System’s Strategic Plan.
