Graphic Arts Media

Ryerson University’s annual GCM Job Fair a resounding success – again!

Seventy-five Ryerson graduates participated in the 2016 Job Fair.
Some of the 75 Ryerson graduates who participated in the 2016 Job Fair.

Ryerson University’s School of Graphic Communications Management (GCM) annual Job Fair is an annual opportunity for employers to network and interview students seeking summer internships or full-time career positions in the printing and graphic communications industry. This year’s five-hour event was hosted in a new location – the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, March 22. It attracted over 300 participants. Ryerson’s Graphic Communications Management Course is Canada’s only degree-granting program for the graphic arts industry. The program’s four-year Bachelor of Technology degree provides a comprehensive grounding in modern technologies as well as in business skills.
Most of the 130 interns interviewed were looking for full-time work.

The speed-networking event sees students spend about 10 minutes with possible employers before moving to a new potential-employer table at the sound of a gong. The total number of companies registered this year was 69 – with 75 GCM graduating students and 130 interns interviewed. Graduating students participate in the first two-hour session, followed by dinner, before the evening concludes with a two-hour session for intern interviews. Interns are normally looking for full-time work (40 hours per week) from May to August. The graduation requirement is 420 hours of work. However, most students are interested in working for the duration of the summer to maximize their experiences. The average pay in previous years varied between $14 and $18 per hour.