Citibank or Primerica. In-House Staffing or Boy Scouts of America. United States Navy or United States Army.

These are only a few of over 50 employment opportunities that were presented to students at Skyline College’s annual holiday job fair, held on Nov. 3.

The job fair offered both seasonal and permanent work as well as full-time and part-time work. Many of the employment agencies offer flexible hours to work around student schedules. The cafeteria, where the job fair was held, was filled with representatives from all over the Bay Area.

“Are you looking for work?” Tanya Simpson, an associate and college recruiter of Primerica, asked a student passing by. The student stopped and listened to Tanya’s speech of how great of an opportunity it would be to work for the financial real estate company.

They exchange information and the student goes on her way.

“I believe [the job fair] is helpful for students,” Simpson said. “There are students who don’t know what they want to do and that is what we are here for. We provide them with options they may have never sought to explore.”

University of Phoenix Business Development Specialist Janell Jones said the job fair was really important for students because it gives them an opportunity to find skills that they are good at.

“The University of Phoenix is a great employment opportunity for students,” Jones said. “We offer free tuition for those who work for us and allow them to find what they are good at.”

Some of the recruits said they get many employees from the community college system because of the diversity throughout the student population.

“Students here aren’t the typical students that you would find at a four-year university,” said Judith Ravarra, human resources representative of Community Gatepath of Northern California. “Most are making a transition in life and switching careers. They aren’t just out of high school. They are looking for other opportunities in different fields.”

Rodger Rosenberg, people development manager of Radio Shack, said that seasonal jobs are a great way of getting a job in a field where they can move up in the ranks.

“A lot of managerial and directorial staff start as seasonal help,” Rosenberg said. “I have worked as a recruit for the past four years and we are always looking for seasonal help this time of year.”

The financial aid office took part in the event and was offering tutoring and scholarship opportunities for students.

Karen Chadwick-White, financial assistant and scholarship coordinator of the financial aid office, said with the shape the job market is in, and all the unemployment, the job fair is good for both students and employers. It gives students the chance of finding work and gives employers an easy convenient way of finding people to hire.

There was a plethora of different companies represented which were so entirely diverse any student could have found a field that interested them. Skyline College student Rachelle Wong was relieved to see so many employers at the event.

“I have been out of work for a while,” Wong said. “I am happy to see that I have options on where I want to work and that makes me feel better about finding a job.”

Wong wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Fellow Skyline College student, James Rosenthal said for the past year it has been hard for him to get a job. The job fair allows him to find work just in time for the holidays.

“I’m glad to see Skyline has these kinds of opportunities,” he said. “I’m new to the college and it’s reassuring to know that [the career center] cares to offer students the chance to find jobs, especially since our economy is in the slumps.”