Feb. 5, 2008

PITTSBURGH-The Pitt Athletics Department hosted its annual Panther Game Plan Career Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the Petersen Events Center. As part of the Life Skills Department, Pitt student-athletes were encouraged to get a head-start on networking and job opportunities.

Over 400 student-athletes attended the career fair, which featured 100 networkers as well as a presentation by Athletes 4 Hire, a training/placement firm that works primarily with individuals who have a collegiate athletics background.

"Each year the Panther Game Plan Career Fair gets bigger and bigger," said Director for Life Skills Penny Semaia. "Our goal is to provide our student-athletes with opportunities to prepare for their future."

The Career Fair has been a part of athletics since 1998, and has been changed to a reception-style networking opportunity over the last three years. In addition, various presentations and information booths were set up for student-athletes to learn about making first impressions, writing a strong resume and dressing for success.

The student-athletes were able to mingle with a number of alumni and professionals in fields ranging from business and law enforcement to graduate school and health professions. The student-athletes were split into two groups, juniors and seniors in one and freshmen and sophomores in the other. While one group listened to a lecture presented by DJ Washington, a training and development specialist for Athletes 4 Hire, the other group interacted with the networkers.

"I thought the Career Fair was a lot easier this year," said sophomore Dani Bryan of the women's gymnastics team. "As a freshman I was nervous to walk up and speak to the networkers, but this year I was more confident and prepared."

The Athletics Department surveyed the student-athletes and used last year's feedback to get a better understanding of their future objectives. The goal was to fill the niches in which student-athletes had expressed an interest. The Athletics Department teamed up with Academic Support Service for Student Athletes, the Pitt Career Network division of the Pitt Alumni Association, and Career Services to organize the event.

"The biggest difference this year was the increase in diversity of the employers," said junior Andrew Kyrejko of the swimming and diving team. "Tonight I got a chance to meet with a producer from Fox Sports and a woman that did casting for Rent. Two years ago those options weren't available but Penny Semaia and the athletics department heard what I was interested in and invited those networkers."

"The 2008 Career Fair was a huge success, said Semaia. "Thanks to the support of Athletics Director Steve Pederson and Executive Athletics Director Donna Sanft, our Pitt student-athletes had the opportunity to meet with some great employers and ask questions that will prepare them for the future."