The Charger Blog

Healthcare Majors Benefit from Healthcare-Focused Career Fair

The University’s Career Development Center recently hosted a first-of-its-kind career expo focused on the field of healthcare. Students were grateful for the opportunity to explore career and internship opportunities in their field and to connect with industry professionals.

April 5, 2024

By Anchal Bhatia ’24 MBA


Baki Izzat (right) and industry professionals at the career expo.
Baki Izzat (right) and industry professionals at the career expo.

To highlight the job opportunities available and to power the job searches for students with majors related to healthcare, the Career Development Center hosted its first-ever career fair focused specially on healthcare students. Both graduates and undergraduates and were thrilled to attend.

Representatives from Quality Counseling met with Chargers at the career expo.
Representatives from Quality Counseling met with Chargers at the career expo.

Bakhtawar (Baki) Izzat, employer relations manager at the CDC, was ecstatic to see the response and enthusiasm of the students in attendance.

“It was an absolute honor to have launched our first ever healthcare career fair,” she said. “We had around 20 employers and organizations attend, including Yale New Haven Health, Nuvance Health, Optimus Healthcare, and more. It was a pleasure to have hosted these amazing companies on campus to enable them to meet our talented students. Our employers left the event very happy and impressed by our students, and some are getting interviews! I am excited for the opportunity to grow this event even more next year.”

The career fair provided an interactive and fun learning experience for students. Recruiters from various companies were eager to meet with them to talk about potential opportunities.

Through this career fair, students also got a holistic view of the field and the areas they are interested in. Recruiters provided them with constructive feedback and guidance. Many students also benefitted from quick glances at their resumes by the recruiters, who offered insight on how to incorporate best industry-level practices and secure positions in the field.

‘The companies at the fair were impressive’

Krupa Ann Mathew ’24 MPH described the career fair as an enlightening experience. She believes it offered rich opportunities and says the event was a big hit.

Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Prisons were charged up to discuss career opportunities with students.
Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Prisons were charged up to discuss career opportunities with students.

“While not my first career fair, it was the first time I attended one tailored to my major, which added a fresh perspective to my job search,” she said. “I have now made it a point to attend all career fairs hosted by the Career Development Center, as I firmly believe in the power of networking and self-promotion.”

Mathew also believes that the Career Development Center made a groundbreaking move by hosting this major-oriented career fair. She hopes to see even more companies and startups recruiting at the University of New Haven’s future career fairs.

She believes the career expos are a great way to interact and learn about a variety of companies and organizations and the opportunities they have.

“The companies at the fair were impressive, offering a clear insight into the industry landscape and what to expect in future roles,” she said. “I used this opportunity to refine my career goals and to better understand what I seek in a job. The employers were clear about their requirements, seeking to understand my approach to the roles they had and how I could leverage the opportunity effectively. Communication was key, and I engaged with them confidently and enthusiastically. I believe I portrayed myself as a valuable asset.”

The career expo was a great way for students to connect with professionals in the healthcare field.
The career expo was a great way for students to connect with professionals in the healthcare field.
‘Incredibly helpful and promising’

Funmilayo Rufai ’25 MPH, a graduate assistant for the Career Development Center, also enjoyed the career fair. She was impressed when she saw how many companies and recruiters were a part of it. She believed the event was well-organized and beneficial for her job search.

“Although I have been to career fairs before, this one was incredibly helpful and promising,” she said. “The talent acquisition employers from companies such as the City of New Haven, Yale New Haven Health, Marrakech Inc, and Hartford HealthCare were helpful, engaging, and willing to answer all my questions about internship and job opportunities. I could communicate effectively with them, which made the experience even more valuable.”

Anchal Bhatia ’24 MBA is a candidate in the University’s MBA program.