Career Fair Brings the Job Market to Campus

The event, hosted by Career Exploration and Development (CXD), reflected the expansiveness of Bowdoin’s liberal arts curriculum and students' spectrum of interests and skills. Thirty-two employers from Maine, other New England states, and beyond gathered to recruit students for opportunities in science, technology, consulting, education, sustainability, health care, social justice, marketing, finance, business, government, and more.

To participate, organizations had to have plans to recruit for paid full-time roles or internships within the coming year.

The result was a busy event in Morrell Lounge, filled with the buzzy noise of many simultaneous conversations and the steady exchange of resumes, contact information, and job descriptions.

“While we have relationships with all of these companies, students might not be familiar with them,” said Dawn Gerding, CXD’s director of employer engagement and the event’s organizer. “We wanted to expose students, all at once, to the wide range of opportunities available to them.”

Bringing together so many recruiters and students in one space seemed to inject a shot of inspiration into some attendees. “I came in very nervous, but now I’m feeling hopeful,” said Shumaim Rashid ’26. “And that's a rare feeling for a senior!”

Rashid, an anthropology major and government minor from Pakistan, came prepared. She reviewed CXD’s employer guide in advance, marking the organizations open to sponsoring international students. After speaking with several company representatives, she planned to follow up with Chenmark, which acquires and manages small businesses, and Consigli, a New England-based construction firm.

Among the many company employees at the event were seventeen Bowdoin alumni. Anna Kelly ’24 and Allie Britt ’22, associate consultants with Trinity Life Sciences in Waltham, Massachusetts, were on hand to talk about their business's entry-level positions and internships.

“Today we’re looking for collaborative, hardworking, smart, and adaptive students with a background in science,” said Kelly.

Philadelphia-based Athena Global Advisors also sent two team members to recruit interns across its seven departments. They said the marketing consultancy, with about 120 employees—including five Bowdoin alumni—values flexibility and liberal arts thinking.

“Bowdoin students do well because we’re a small agency and everyone has to wear several hats,” said Maddy McDonnell, Athena’s senior event coordinator. “As long as you’re adaptable, you’ll do well.”

Chris Vachow ’20, who started as an intern at Athena before being hired full-time, said his experience at Bowdoin translated naturally to his role. “You have to apply skills in creative thinking, writing, and communication,” he explained. “As a history major, it was an easy transition.”

While many attendees were seniors preparing for the job market, students from other classes showed up as well, propelled by their curiosity to see what was out there for Bowdoin graduates and to practice networking. 

“I’m just testing the waters,” said Max Grad ’28. “This is a great chance to get experience talking to employers.” Grad was particularly interested in the Island Institute, a nonprofit supporting Maine’s coastal and island communities.

First-year student Matthew O’Meara ’29 came with an open mind. He stopped by the Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) table, intrigued by its residential service program that combines community engagement with spiritual exploration.

“I went to a Jesuit high school with similar values,” he said, adding that he also checked out Live + Work in Maine, a nonprofit aimed at retaining and attracting professionals to the state. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, O'Mears said, “I don’t know what I want to do after graduating, but I would like to consider staying in Maine.”

Doreen Wanjiru ’28, interested in computer science and data analysis, said she found promising leads at the biotechnology firm IDEXX and at insurance company Unum. Both have headquarters in southern Maine.

Emma Butterfield ’26, an environmental studies and Hispanic studies major from Brewer, Maine, was drawn to the Maine Government Summer Internship Program. “They seem to have a wide range of policy jobs that relate to the needs of Maine communities,” she said, adding that she wants to give back to her home state.

As the event wound down at 5:00 p.m., Gerding reflected on its success with students. “The breadth of opportunities at the fair, and within a lot of the companies, is what drew in such a wide range of students and why we’re seeing such a high number of attendees,” she said.