The Career Design Center is launching Opportunity Expo (OpXpo), a weeklong campus experience from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 that connects students with employers, alumni, faculty and industry leaders.

Anchored by the STEAM Job + Internship Fair and the School of Management Fall Career Expo, the series offers career-focused programming to help students develop networking skills, interact with professionals and engage with recruiters for internship and job opportunities.

The new approach was shaped by feedback from students and employers seeking more opportunities to connect through career programming beyond the signature career fairs. The series aims to engage students at every stage — from those actively pursuing internships and jobs to those exploring their interests.

Steve Simpson, director of the Career Design Center, says the broader programming allows more students across campus to participate in career exploration.

“Even if students are not actively pursuing an internship or a job, or if they’re just starting to explore possibilities, there are options for them to have meaningful career-related conversations and experiences,” Simpson says.

Throughout the week, students can choose from a variety of events, each offering a different way to explore careers and build skills leading up to the STEAM Job + Internship Fair:

• Pop-Ups: Quick career experiences across campus that create opportunities for students to connect and start conversations.
• Skill Studios: Hands-on, clinic-style experiences where students can practice skills that help them stand out to recruiters.
• Meet-Ups: Opportunities to connect with industry leaders for candid conversations about careers, industries and what it takes to succeed.
• Competitions: Fun, interactive opportunities for students to put their career skills to the test through real-world challenges.
• Ask Me Anything sessions: Informal conversations where students can ask professionals questions and hear firsthand what it’s like to work in their fields.

Together, these events give students opportunities to practice their pitches, strengthen their resumes, connect with industry professionals and learn more about potential employers before taking the next step in their careers.

Jenna Hubbard, associate director of operations and special events at the Career Design Center, explains that students sometimes hesitate to attend career events because they feel unprepared. OpXpo's diverse programming is designed to lower that barrier.

Hubbard adds that faculty, staff, alumni and industry professionals all play important roles in students' career development, and OpXpo offers another way to build those connections across UB.

“We know students learn, explore and discover in different ways, and a job or internship is only one part of that journey,” Hubbard says. “We want students to leave OpXpo with experiences that help them explore their interests, build confidence and take their next step. I hope campus partners see this not solely as a Career Design Center program, but as a UB event they can help shape and contribute to moving forward.”

For students not currently searching for a job or internship, Simpson says participating can still help them better understand their interests and prepare for future opportunities.

“That's exactly why Opportunity Expo exists,” Simpson explains. “It’s for creating spaces and places to have meaningful conversations that aren't geared strictly around a specific internship or job.”

As OpXpo enters its pilot year, the Career Design Center plans to use feedback from the UB community to further develop the series. For Simpson, success begins with engaging a wide range of students, no matter where they are in their career journey. He also hopes OpXpo will help students gain clarity and strengthen their connection to the UB community.

“There’s a lot of information out there for students, but if they’re trying to figure out what’s right for them, don’t hesitate to connect with us at the Career Design Center to have that conversation and see what might be the best fit,” says Simpson.

A full schedule of OpXpo events is available on the Career Design Center website.