Over 107 recruiters came to John Jay for the fall 2019 Career and Internship Fair, on September 19, offering 1,456 student and alumni attendees internship, full-time, and part-time opportunities to kick start their careers. Sponsored by Securitas, K2 Intelligence, the Dallas Police Department, Howard County Police Department (Maryland), and the Portland Police Bureau, this event, provided students the chance to speak with a diverse group of employers, share their career aspirations, and learn about career opportunities. “Our students are passionate, driven, and adaptable,” said Kristina Simonsen, Associate Director for Employer Relations at the Center for Career and Professional Development, adding why recruiters come to the College. “Organizations from across the country come to the College to recruit because they know that our students are so diverse, not just in culture and background, but in their interests. This makes John Jay the perfect place to recruit.”

We asked students and recruiters what they hoped to gain from this semester’s fair.

Fiona Kim ’22
I decided to come here today, because there are so many possibilities to find employment. I came here last year and found an internship. This year, I’m looking for a permanent employment opportunity at a department agency that has a focus on the legal field. 

Denis McGowan, Director of Enforcement Support, Construction Safety Compliance Division, New York City Department of Buildings 
John Jay is often referred to as the “West Point of law enforcement” in the five boroughs and the surrounding areas. People recognize John Jay alumni as people who have knowledge, skills, and abilities not only in the field of criminal justice, but in administration, law, management, data analysis, and a host of other degrees. We recognize the College as a school of excellence. I have been fortunate to hire John Jay alumni when I worked at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Investigations, and now at the Department of Buildings.

Caylee Diaz ’23, CUNY Service Corps Member
By being here today, I really hope that students see that CUNY Service Corps is a great opportunity to help their community. John Jay students have a spirit of advocacy and understand the importance of giving back. Being a part of CUNY Service Corps is a great opportunity for students to lend a helping hand, and create a stronger bond with their community.

Mirella Vasquez ’20, CUNY Service Corps Member
We are recruiting here at John Jay because we know that students have a passion for community service. We want them to learn about CUNY Service Corps and encourage them to join, especially those John Jay students who want to pursue advocacy or social work. This is a chance to get hands-on experience, enhance their understanding of these fields, and help them decide what career path they would like to go on.

Tyheen Frye, Firefighter, New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
John Jay is a school where I see a lot of people aspiring to do a lot more than just furthering their education, they want to do public service and help others. So I’m glad that I get to come here and speak to the students about the opportunities the FDNY has to offer them. 

Yesenia Rodriguez, Senior Manager in Compliance, American Express
We are always looking for diversified talent, especially for our unit, Global Financial Crimes Compliance. John Jay has a lot of students from different backgrounds and majors. Their diverse education has equipped them with a wide skill set which is exactly what we are looking for.

Camilo Medina ’19
I decided to come here today to seek better employment opportunities. I am currently a tenant organizer and counselor over in Brooklyn, New York. John Jay has great connections and it’s always a good idea to come to an event like the Career and Internship Fair, network, talk to employers, and see what opportunities are out there to advance your career.

Hunter Leszczynski, Patrolman, Hampton Police Division
John Jay is a perfect place for us to recruit because we have a wide variety of people that we are targeting. A lot of people that work for our department are from out-of-state. I’m from the Detroit, Michigan area and came down for the position. I’ve been with the Hampton Police Division for almost three years and it’s a move that I don’t regret.