Career fair connects students and alumni with job opportunities and advice

Back when Adham Talaat, ’14, was a Physical Education and Recreation major who played football, his goal was to win games. At the March career fair, held by the Office for Career Success (OCS), he was back on campus trying to win over promising students.

He was representing Erickson Senior Living, a retirement community business that has 22 locations and counting. Talaat, Assistant Director of Facilities at the community in Ashburn, Virginia, offered this pitch at the fair: “If you want to make a difference and give back, this is a great way to do that. You can see your impact working in these communities and not in an office miles away. You work where the residents you serve live.”

Erickson Senior Living was one of several new employers recruiting on campus at the March event, which focused on internships and jobs mainly in the private sector. (OCS held another fair in April that focused on opportunities in the education and non-profit sectors.) 

Over 40 businesses and organizations participated from the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area) and places further afield. Close to 500 students and alumni attended, an increase of over 50% from previous years, due to improved marketing efforts and strategic partnerships, according to Anjali Desai-Margolin, ’87 & G-’92, Employer Relations Coordinator at OCS. OCS collaborated with faculty and administrators to promote the event and expanded the use of digital platforms to build excitement. “The Alumni Office played a key role, especially in reaching out to displaced government employees seeking new job opportunities,” she says.

Higher numbers are encouraging for OCS, which wants to create as many chances as possible for students and alumni to interact with prospective employers — whether that’s through career fairs or its Handshake networking platform. OCS provides the training and tools to craft strong resumes and prepare for interviews, so attendees are ready for these moments, Desai-Margolin says.

She sees internships as a particularly effective stepping stone for students, as many of these opportunities turn into permanent positions. Desai-Margolin notes that Hartford Insurance has hired four alumni and will take on two summer interns this year. Dell Corporation has hired three interns over three consecutive summers, all of whom are now full-time employees.

In part, these patterns have developed because OCS actively partners with employers to build inclusive, meaningful hiring pipelines. “We offer Deaf awareness training to help businesses create accessible and welcoming environments, and we foster connections among employers to share best practices around hiring and working with Deaf and hard of hearing talent.” Desai-Margolin says.

Another first-time recruiter at the career fair was Bloomberg Industry Group, based in Crystal City. Employees from Bloomberg toured Gallaudet in 2023 and wanted to expand that relationship. Krishna Najjar, Bloomberg’s Engagement and Philanthropy Partner, explained that they were there to give juniors a head start on applying for 2026 internships.

His colleague, Ryan Webb, offered some across-the-board advice to students seeking internships, starting with research on the company to ensure a positive experience: “See what their mission is, what their values are, and make sure that aligns with you.” He also encouraged students to use LinkedIn to reach out to people. “Send connections, whether it be someone in recruiting or someone in a similar style role or the department that you’re looking to work in,” Webb said. “At least at our company, a lot of folks are more than happy to answer questions they get about their role.”

Several employers recruiting at the fair sent Gallaudet graduates, like Talaat, to connect with attendees. “We encourage our alumni to stay involved with our students,” says Desai-Margolin, who notes that they can also serve as mentors and panelists at OCS workshops.

While promoting Erickson Senior Living, Talaat was able to share what he has learned about starting a career. “Come with an open mind – you’d be surprised what opportunities are out there,” he said. “There’s an abundance, regardless of your major, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and show up.”

A few tables down, Jose Ruiz, ’24, told students about his success story. He started his career at Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) as an intern. (PHLY founder James Maguire has a long-standing relationship with Gallaudet and donated funds to establish the risk management insurance major.) Ruiz received a good evaluation, enjoyed his internship, and when he was asked to join the company as a full-time employee, he quickly signed on the dotted line. In July, he’ll celebrate his first anniversary at PHLY. His advice for students: “There are no dumb questions – just ask! Make sure to do research on your own, but don’t hesitate to ask people anything you can.”