Seniors ambled through Dillon Gym like kids in a candy store Friday, gathering loot from companies desperate to attract the best and brightest.
More than 100 organizations — ranging from investment banks to the CIA — jostled for student attention at the General Interest Career Fair, offering not only pens and notepads but also Frisbees, t-shirts, Rubik's cubes, Nalgene bottles, Lindt chocolates, Slinkys, mouse pads, stress balls and playing cards, all emblazoned with corporate logos.
As college seniors nationwide enjoy a boom in postgraduate employment, the knickknacks are an attempt by employers — over 1,500 of whom are listed on Tiger Tracks — to stand out and attract applicants who fit their recruiting profile.
Last year, 68 percent of the Class of 2006 planned to enter the workplace, and only one quarter of them were still seeking a job at graduation. For many employers, recruitment starts in the fall.
"I was shocked at how quickly it develops," said Charles Stone '07, who attended the career fair. "The sheer amount of solicitation is staggering."
Representatives at the fair discussed how their approach to recruitment mirrors their work environment. Recruiters from the online advertising firm Right Media and from Steve and Barry's University Sportswear said their casual clothes reflected a relaxed work environment. Overshadowing the other tables, gigantic display boards from Google and Abercrombie & Fitch projected the idea of working for something larger.
Microsoft and IBM, meanwhile, offered gifts in tune with their philosophies: Sudoku books for quantitative thinking and glowing ice cubes indicating innovative approaches to technology. Others stressed how they might be a good fit for the potential applicant. Dana Craver of the Princeton University Investment Company explained that the company was "ideal for the undecided."
Many companies also attempted to reach out to students through nontraditional channels. Daniel Simpson of Barclays Capital met with student clubs to reach those who might not attend the career fair. Under the advice of employees Kerry Reilly '03 and Kim Mattson '05, Bridgewater Associates took ping-pong balls to the Street on Thursday evening, probably for use in Beirut games.
The tactic is "really just [Bridgewater recruiters] hanging out with their friends and talking about Bridgewater in a more informal setting," Reilly said.
"We approach recruiting the same way we approach managing money — by figuring out what we think is the best way to do it, not by looking at what everyone else is doing," he added.
Flashy toys aside, all the employers have a common goal: catching students' attention and reminding them of ways to get more information and apply.
"The cool gear is definitely effective in pulling people over," IBM's Julia Travers explained, "but it is ultimately not effective at selling jobs."
Alisha Holland '07 said she appreciated all the free pens. "But," she added, "they're not going to change my mind."
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