November 1999

Minority Recruitment Committee Career Fair Helps Students and Employers

Career Day 2

The NYSSCPA Minority Group Recruitment and Equal Opportunity Committee, chaired by Alex Ampadu, held its annual Career Fair on October 15. Eleven CPA firms and companies and more than 80 students from across New York state attended the event, where prospective employers had the opportunity to meet and distribute information to both students and job-seekers with diverse ethnic backgrounds, both entry-level and experienced.

The goal of the career fair is to promote the profession to diverse candidates. Most of the college students who attended the event will graduate in 2000 and the fair gave them the opportunity meet with prospective employers.

"I enjoyed the one-to-one contact," attendee Leona Johnston said, on her evaluation form. "I was able to gather a lot of information about each company."

This year's program marked the first time that the Minority Group Recruitment Committee combined its two career-oriented events--a fair with employer exhibitors and an educational workshop with speakers discussing various job search tips. In addition to the exhibiting firms and companies, Brenda Wyetzner from Career Advantage, a recruitment firm, provided interview tips, job-hunting techniques, and resume critiques to further help the students in their search for success in the accounting profession.

Participating firms and companies included American Express Tax and Business Services, Arthur Andersen LLP, Bisk CPA Review, Bond Beebe, Ellenbogen Rubenstein & Eisdorfer, Ernst & Young LLP, Loeb & Troper, Margolin Winer & Evens LLP, Philip Morris, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and Watson Rice LLP.

The event also attracted career advisors, including Christine Dias from Hostos College Career Center.

"The NYSSCPA and its Minority Group Recruitment Committee have selected top-notch firms," Dias said. "It was excellent for me to network with them."

Career Day

In addition to Ampadu, committee members Bob Robinson, Carlos Icaza, and Audrey Foster attended.

"I was glad to see such enthusiastic and well-prepared students, and the firm participation was outstanding," Ampadu said. "I am sure the employers and the sessions' speakers made an impact on the students and their career paths."

For more information on careers in the accounting profession and the Society's recruitment programs, contact NYSSCPA Recruitment Specialist Sanjay Paranandi at (212) 719-8364, (800) 633-6320, or sparanandi@nysscpa.org. *