Business professionals lined the halls of Worthen Arena Wednesday giving students the opportunity to interview with companies ranging from Aflac to Walgreens.
Cindy Hershman, coordinator of employer relations for the Career Center, said the employer turnout was slightly lower this year with about 90 employers compared to last year's 110 companies.
The amount of student participants also decreased this year with more than 400 students attending, Hershman said. The lower number surprised her, she said, because of the current economic situation.
Mark Hannon, associate director of the Career Center, said the unemployment rate for college graduates is 4 percent.
"The employment prospects are still strong for college graduates," he said. "We do not want students to get frustrated or give up with their employer search."
Ben Saurer, representative for Federated Media, said his company returned to the Cardinal Job Fair because it had success in the past with Ball State University students.
"We have had great success with finding good talents at Ball State," he said. "We hired a student last year as an intern and she is still working with the company today."
Senior industrial engineer major Dan Lewis said the fair had downsized significantly this year.
"It was filled all around last year, but some employers canceled this year," he said. "There is not as many opportunities as last year."
Senior marketing major David Sandberg said he came to the career fair looking for an internship for his major.
"I think the economy is a factor in the job search," he said. "I just hope it's not a problem."
The Career Center helped students at the fair by providing mirrors, lint rollers, mints and combs for touch-ups before interviews. Employers and Career Center staff stressed the importance of appearance during an interview.
Employers will be following up interviews with students today and later in the semester.
"There are still jobs out there, and it will never be this easy to interview again," Hershman said.
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