College to Host Annual Networking and Job Fair May 7 

EvergreenHealth, PorchLight, and the City of Bellevue are just a few employers that community members, alumni, and students can meet with at Bellevue College’s annual Networking and Job Fair on Wednesday, May 7. 

From 11:30 AM to 2 PM in Room 301AB of the U Building on campus, the job fair will offer event attendees the opportunity to build networks with recruiters, connect with fellow job seekers, and learn from professional organizations about what they’re looking for in a workforce. The event is free and open to all.  

“It is a great opportunity for students to explore and practice their elevator pitches and for companies to raise visibility among students,” said Fabienne Mouton, the event organizer and associate director of corporate outreach and employment programs at Bellevue College. “Job fairs have evolved significantly over the past decade. We’ve adapted to changes in technology, industry demands, and community needs.” 

Sponsored by Bellevue College’s Center for Career Connections, Mouton noted the institution has been holding a job fair since the early 2000s. In addition to organizing the annual job fair, the Center for Career Connections helps students, alumni, and the community with free job hunting and career planning services. This includes meeting with a career specialist to explore interests, skills, and career options, personal branding for job hunting, resume and interviewing strategies, work-study assistance and connecting students to internships. The Center also helps local employers find talent for open positions through a platform called Handshake. 

In addition to the job fair, the Center for Career Connections is offering drop-in resume review sessions and a Pre-Job Fair Prep Workshop on May 6 for job seekers to get prepare and their questions asked before the main event.    

“Job fairs are such a great opportunity to get out there and connect with real employers,” said Bellevue College student Jonathan Liem. “It’s a chance to practice talking in a professional setting, ask questions, and actually see what kinds of jobs are out there. Even if you’re not ready to apply yet, it helps you start figuring out what direction you might want to go in.” 

The Center for Career Connections also offers several tips for before the job fair, during, and after to best prepare candidates for gainful employment. Some of these include researching the attending companies beforehand, tips on how to create a strong first impression when meeting employers, and best practices for following up afterward. 

“I believe this job fair presents a valuable opportunity for prospective students, alumni, and even members of the community since it offers insight into the job market within a setting that already feels familiar and welcoming,” said Bellevue College student Cristian Montero. “There are plenty of opportunities to build meaningful connections when engaging with employers, so why not take advantage of the chance to explore what’s out there?” 

To learn more about Bellevue College’s Networking and Job Fair, see the complete list of employers, and register, visit bellevuecollege.edu/careers/employers/annual-job-fair/.