By: Michelle Radman

On September 25, the Partnerships for Employment (P4E) Job Fair brought together students and alumni from University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Guelph and Conestoga College.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the job fair, which was held at RIM Park.

With 181 employers in attendance, the job fair provided a diverse range of job opportunities for students across multiple sectors. Employers in attendance were mostly from the finance and manufacturing sectors and included 53 new employer participants. Although there were fewer tech companies in attendance than previous years, employers with engineering roles made up 61% of the recruitment needs. Several recruiters from finance, human resources, information technology and marketing sectors had engaging conversations with students and alumni at their booths.

University of Waterloo co-op student employer, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC), attended the Fair for the 11th consecutive year.

We're always looking for students who are willing to learn, wanting to build their skills and are seeking new opportunities.

Meredith Federau, a recruiter at TMMC

The P4E committee arranged buses to transport more than 3,000 students from the participating institutions to the fair. The students appreciated the range of industries represented at the fair and were eager to explore potential career paths and network with employers.

“Being physically present at the job fair, engaging with real people and experiencing spontaneous conversations made me realize how much of the job search process is about personal connection,” said Rachita Khetan, a third-year Global Business and Digital Arts student at Waterloo. “It was refreshing to see the human side of employers—how open they were to hearing my story and how willing they were to share theirs.”

This year’s P4E fair included a reception to honour the 30th anniversary. Notable guests included Karen Redman, Regional Chair of the Region of Waterloo, Members of Provincial Parliament Aislinn Clancy and Catherine Fife, and leaders from each of the partner institutions. Their presence emphasized the importance of this long-standing partnership in supporting students in the community.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the next P4E Job Fair on January 29, 2025, at Bingeman’s Conference Centre in Kitchener. As the P4E initiative continues to grow, it remains a crucial platform for bridging the gap between education and employment, empowering the next generation of professionals.