While many students plan to attend the annual Bryce Jordan Center career fair today, others already got a head start on the job search.

The diversityCHAT.psu, AMulticultural Networking Reception was held yesterday in the HUB Heritage Hall and allowed students from all backgrounds to speak about their future careers with more than 20 employers.

Chris MacGill, associate director of career services, said the reception was more informal than other career fairs held this week.

"This is an element of supporting diversity and allowing both employers and students to meet in a less hairy environment than the career fair," MacGill said.

She emphasized the fair was open to everyone, but since it was a diversity-recruitment event, minorities were contacted through e-mail invitations.

"Many of the employers are looking to diversify their workforce and this gives them the opportunity," MacGill said.

Sandra Humphrey, a recruiter from Schering-Plough, a pharmaceutical company, said her job was to make sure the applicant pool for jobs represents as much depth as possible.

"We don't specifically target diversity, but we need to make sure we are well-rounded," Humphrey said. "A lot of diversity students don't go to regular career fairs so we need to get them at these events."

Pete Waldron, a recruiter from Liberty Mutual, an insurance company, said because society is diverse, corporations need to grow accordingly.

Both Humphrey and Waldron said credentials are the final determinant in making hires.

Alain Charles (senior-operation and information system management) attended the career fair and said events like it are important because they promote diversity in the workplace.

"It is bringing different cultures together and uniting them in the workforce," Charles said. "Every event toward career fairs are targeted for the majority, these fairs help give minorities a voice."

Leah Orchinik (sophomore-psychology) said equality in the workplace cannot always be achieved by actively seeking out those of different races and backgrounds.

"It's not a white versus minority thing," Orchinik said. "Everyone has different backgrounds, even whites have differences with other whites. That shouldn't be a factor."

David Ozalas (junior-physics) said he feels the event is aimed to rectify inequalities minorities often face. However, because the event isn't promoted to everyone, it only further encourages separation.

"I guess in this case two wrongs make a right," Ozalas said. "Especially me being a white male, I'm going to have benefits I would never know I had, where if I was a minority or a women I would face certain discriminations."

Joyce Shih (sophomore-accounting) attended the fair and said it was important because diversity allows creativity to flourish in a corporate world.

Dave Lin (junior-division of undergraduate studies) was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States eight years ago.

Lin, who didn't go to the career fair, said events aimed toward students of a diverse background stem from affirmative action but are still needed in today's society.

"If it is because they are a minority they get a job but they aren't as qualified as a white person, I think it's unfair," he said. "Other than culture which has nothing to do with a job, we are all equal."