The Culinary Institute of America Hosts Largest Career Fair Since 2008

 

More Companies than Ever Actively Recruit Graduates

Media Contact:

Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

Hyde Park, NY – The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is bringing 280 recruiters to its Hyde Park, NY campus on February 4 for the largest career fair at the college in six years—since before the economic downturn. Companies from all sectors of foodservice and hospitality are actively seeking recent and soon-to-be CIA graduates for positions. In fact, due to space constraints at the career fair venue, 15 companies had to be put on a waiting list.

Acting Director of Career Services Ronald Hayes '02, himself a graduate of the college, attributes the success of the CIA's career fairs to several factors, including an overall increase in jobs available and budgets that allow companies to recruit. He also notes that restaurant companies like Jean-Georges Restaurants, the Charlie Palmer Group, and Bread Alone are coming to the fair. "These restaurants don't have to recruit. People come to them looking for jobs," Hayes says. "But they're coming to the source, because demand is really high for CIA graduates. They know they'll be hiring a superior employee."

In a sign that the food world is leading the economic recovery, each of the last 16 quarterly fairs at the CIA has seen a growth in companies attending from the same season the year before. In 2013, the fairs combined to welcome a record 885 recruiters.

Organizations recruiting CIA graduates include fine-dining restaurants, bakeries, hotels and resorts, country clubs, casual dining chains, caterers, supermarkets, healthcare and educational institutions, research and development companies, airport concessions, and corporate dining, to name just a few.

For years, the CIA has been hosting career fairs on its Hyde Park campus, where recruiters actively look to hire students for externship field experience and graduates for a wide range of jobs in kitchens and dining rooms and on management tracks. The college recently launched similar Career Networking Days at its California and Texas campuses.

Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image

Students at The Culinary Institute of America have tremendous networking opportunities, as hundreds of foodservice and hospitality companies come to the college's Hyde Park campus each year to actively recruit them. (Photo credit: CIA/Nicola Shayer)
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Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college offering associate and bachelor's degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and culinary science, as well as certificate programs in culinary arts and wine and beverage studies. As the world's premier culinary college, the CIA provides thought leadership in the areas of health & wellness, sustainability, and world cuisines & cultures through research and conferences. The CIA has a network of 46,000 alumni that includes industry leaders such as Grant Achatz, Anthony Bourdain, Roy Choi, Cat Cora, Dan Coudreaut, Steve Ells, Johnny Iuzzini, Charlie Palmer, and Roy Yamaguchi. The CIA also offers courses for professionals and enthusiasts, as well as consulting services in support of innovation for the foodservice and hospitality industry. The college has campuses in Hyde Park, NY; St. Helena, CA; San Antonio, TX; and Singapore.

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