With over 30 employers in attendance, the 2024 MSW Career and Networking fair was a huge success for our Master of Social Work Students.
Students brought their polished resumes and best attitudes to the Westchester campus, where they mingled with employers seeking fresh graduates for social work positions.
Kayla Maisonave, GSS ’24
“At first, I was pretty nervous, but everyone was so welcoming and made me realize I do have what it takes to land a job with one of these employers or any other employers in the future,” Kayla Maisonave, a May 2024 grad, said. “It made me optimistic.”
Students heard from employers in health care, child welfare, veterans affairs, and more. Some of the employers in attendance included:
- Abilis
- ANDRUS
- Acacia Network
- Astor Services for Family and Children
- CJR
- Family Services of Westchester
- MHA of Westchester
- Montefiore Medical Center
- Northwell Health
- NYC Health and Hospitals
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Hudson Valley
- Westhab
Students said that one of the many benefits of the job fair was meeting employers in person. They each got personalized attention from organizations to make lasting connections.
“I liked having the person-to-person [interaction],” said Chrisjen White, another May 2024 graduate. “We got to meet with the actual recruiters and see the people we’d be working with in the future. Having family in the military, one of the companies I really enjoyed was the Hudson Valley VA.”
Not Just for Students
Fordham MSW students weren’t the only ones benefitting from the event. Employers got to meet new graduates from a program ranked in the top 10% in the country. Being on the frontlines, these organizations know society needs quality social workers, as confirmed by the Bureau for Labor Statistics, which reports that social work jobs will increase by 9% from 2021-2031.
Employers stressed the importance of graduates voicing their desired career outcomes at these types of events. If you have a certain area of population with which you want to work, make sure the recruiters hear about it.
“We’re looking for clinicians who would like to work with children so they can thrive and grow,” said Martina Morrissey, a senior recruiter for ANDRUS. “If you know what population you’d like to work with, really express that desire to the employer.”
However, students shouldn’t be closed-minded, either. Just because you have the idea of a dream role doesn’t
Susan Scharf
mean that other positions couldn’t satisfy your career ambitions—you never know when something might surprise you and pique your interest.
“Keep an open mind,” said Susan Scharf, a social worker for Family Services of Westchester. “We offer many
different divisions at our agency…look at all the specific roles and see what meets [your]interest.”
