'What are you guys all about?" may be the most commonly heard question at NAU's Fall Career Fair.

"Will you hire me right out of college?" is a close second.

Wednesday's career fair at the High Country Conference Center featured 62 booths, including Coolidge Unified School District, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and various law schools.

The representatives offered networking opportunities, career advice and, for some, the promise of an interview.

"I'm here to see what's out there and what kind of places might hire me after I graduate next year," junior electronic media major Shannon Sassone said. "It's not easy to find a job, so I might as well get started early."

For NAU students and Flagstaff community members, the amalgam of potential employers means a chance to explore diverse interests.

"I talked with (representatives) from the law school at Gonzaga University, the Grand Canyon National Park and Hostess," Shannon Sassone said between bites of her complimentary Zinger.

The first two hours of the fair were open exclusively to NAU students and affiliates. At noon, community members were welcomed to browse the event's entries.

Despite tough economic times, the fair's attendance and participation was comparable with previous years, Senior Academic Adviser Sonia Gonzalez said.

"(We had) booths from employers from all over Arizona, from Oregon, Florida and Chicago," Gonzalez said. "We want them to see the caliber of NAU students."

Because the majority of students tend to graduate in May, the Spring Career Fair is usually the larger of the two events held each year. But for those graduating in December, or just looking for potential networking connections, the fall career fair offers face-to- face time with company and school representatives.

"Many companies are looking to hire as soon as possible," Gonzalez said. "But students who aren't in their senior year will be looking for possible internships or summer jobs."

For some career fair participants, "as soon as possible" may mean the following day. Today, employers will hold as interviews at the Gateway Student Success Center on NAU's campus, where on-the-spot hiring isn't out of the norm.