Photo by Finn Wikstrom ’26/The Choate News
By Ethan Zhang ’26, Copy Editor
On September 29, Choate’s Alumni Relations Office hosted its second annual Career Fair in Lanphier Center.
The purpose of Career Fair is to highlight Choate alumni and provide students with insight into how they can pursue different fields after graduating as well as networking opportunities. Students could choose to attend up to two sessions, where alumni would share about their careers after Choate in a variety of different disciplines, including business, education, environment, finance, law, and more.
This year, Choate hosted nine alumni, fewer than the 15 who attended last year, but this smaller turnout allowed for more focused and productive discussions.
Student co-organizer Xiu Lim ’25 discussed the significance of Career Fair. “It’s a valuable opportunity to see how a Choate diploma can be used … and the realities of working in these industries beyond surface-level conception,” Lim said.
The day kicked off at 9:30 a.m. in the Lanphier Center lobby, where students, dressed in special academic attire, checked in and enjoyed the snacks and beverages provided. From 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., students participated in two self-selected alumni-led discussions and presentations about their respective fields. At 11:45 a.m., the groups dispersed, and brunch was provided for all attendees, allowing students to ask questions and converse with the alumni more casually and individually.
Zaki Shamsi ’26 attended the finance and law sessions and found the conversational approach of the Career Fair to be extremely helpful. He said, “Being able to ask questions in a casual and approachable setting helped me understand both the technical aspects of these careers and the personal journeys behind them.”
Student co-organizer Jeremiah Olubowale ’25 attended the psychology and engineering sessions and appreciated the diversity of the alumni he spoke with. “Talking to someone who’s a minority like I am was an insightful experience into what the software engineering field is like,” he said.
Planning for Career Fair began in early summer when Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Ms. Hattie Briggs and the Alumni Relations Office reached out to alumni, booked spaces in the Lanphier Center, and created registration forms. In determining which alumni to recruit, Ms. Briggs said, “We look at companies that are going to catch peoples’ eye because that’s helpful in garnering interest.” In addition to recognizable companies, they also “try to build a diverse panel of genders, backgrounds, ages, and racial diversity,” she said.
As this was only the second-ever Career Fair, both attendees and organizers had suggestions for how the event could be improved in the future. A frustration Ms. Briggs and the Alumni Relations Office experienced was the number of no-show students. She said, “We’re working on how we can create more accountability as we don’t want to invite alumni to campus and have a disappointing turnout — perhaps if we need more reminders for students or more posters, it’s really about following through with the commitment to show up.” Lim also believes having more alumni at the event would bolster student interest.
While the Alumni Relations Office continues to brainstorm ideas to improve next year’s Career Fair, the experience proved to be valuable to many attendees. Shamsi said in summary, “We saw firsthand how professionals have navigated the same questions we have now and how their paths unfolded, helping guide us in the future.”
