More Than 300 Smith Students Attend the Latest Job & Internship Fair

On October 8, more than 300 Smithies and students from other local colleges attended the Smith College Job & Internship Fair, where they met with various representatives to explore internship opportunities, job openings, and graduate programs. 

Nearly 50 universities and employers—including engineering firms, school districts, nonprofits, and researchers—attended the fair to showcase the various pathways available to students, both while they are in college and after graduation. 

“I hope they see what’s possible,” says R.T. Arnold, CEO and founder of CapYear, one of the fair sponsors. “Maybe it sparks an interest they didn’t even know about.” 

According to Deborah Wijnhoven, assistant dean of employer partnerships and career communities at the Lazarus Center, getting involved early with career and academic exploration is a vital step in helping first-years set themselves up for success. 

“Career advisers are making sure students have a plan A but also a plan B,” she says. “Opportunities that aren’t a perfect fit can still help you develop tools and skills that can be leveraged for the next opportunity. We’re always telling students: Think about what you want to do for the next 12 to 18 months. Don’t make a career decision at this stage.” 

The career fair could be the place students find their first internship, a postgraduate job in their field, or the perfect graduate school program. Emma Haims ’26 experienced this last year at the 2025 Job & Internship Fair. A biochemistry major at Smith, she arrived at the fair and went straight to the Boston Children’s Hospital booth where she met Elicia Estrella ’90, a genetic counselor. Haims is now working as a clinical research assistant in the neuromuscular division at the hospital, and recently returned to Smith to help run this year’s career fair table.

“I hope students learn that it is important to extend yourself, and it’s important to ask good questions,” says Haims. “I remember when I came to this career fair, I was definitely very nervous to put myself out there. So I hope that more than anything, they learn that we’re all just people doing good work and just trying to learn more.”

At Smith’s Job & Internship Fair, Lazarus Center staff have added an “Ask an Adviser” area, where students can get on-demand help—like testing out their handshaking skills. Some students may feel nervous or unsure about attending a fair and walking up to a table.

Arnold reminds students that every career rep was also once a student. “Everyone who’s standing behind the table has opted in to wanting to talk to you,” he says.

Smith College next hosts the Women’s Colleges and Universities Virtual Career Fair on October 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. and the STEM & Health Professions Career Fair will be on February 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.