This January 24-27th, Search Associates (SEARCH) hosted its annual fair in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Launched almost 30 years ago by Founding Director John Magagna, Search Cambridge is the flagship fair after which all others are modeled. John’s daughter and CEO of the company, Jessica Magagna still organizes the Cambridge fair, making sure it provides a high level of personal attention to all attendees.
This year over 350 candidates met with representatives from 123 schools. In discussion were over 800 international vacancies, so a considerable team of SEARCH experts came to lend a hand: Founding Director John Magagna, COO Rajiv Bhat, Director of Consulting George Entwistle, Senior Consultants Brent Mutsch and Norma Hudson along with Senior Associates Diana Kerry, Bridget McNamer, and Julie Ryan. Jessica anticipates about 180 placements as a result of the fair.
Due to the level of support from both the SEARCH and hotel staff, many say the Cambridge fair, though sizeable, offers a “family-style” atmosphere. Cambridge Hyatt Regency has been hosting the Cambridge fair for the last 26 years. The staff know the event intimately and go out of their way to provide a friendly and warm atmosphere for all candidates and schools attending.
Search Cambridge featured several helpful workshops for candidates. Senior Associate Julie Ryan and international educator/leader Nada Collins from the American Embassy School in New Delhi hosted two workshops on “tips for good interviewing.” Several other workshops on the joys of living abroad offered a great deal of information about how to move overseas and what to expect when getting there.
At the fair’s end, candidate Tiffany Washington had this to say:
Search Associates is an incredible program that has surely superseded my expectation as a candidate. This organization definitely lives up to their mission! They provide an exhilarating experience at the job fairs, coach you on preparedness, and, most importantly, the CEO is hands-on. Senior Associates are helpful and supportive emotionally, and all other support staffers were exceptional hosts. In a nutshell, I left the Cambridge, MA job fair knowing that "Search Associates will be Your First and Last Stop."
For more about Search Associates’ 14 annual job fairs held around the world, click here.
