SAN MARCOS - Dressed for success in freshly pressed slacks, skirts and button-up shirts, more than 500 Cal State San Marcos students and area residents handed out resumes and chatted up prospective employers during the university's annual career fair Wednesday.

Sponsored by the university's Career Center, the job fair featured booths from about 100 companies and organizations, including SeaWorld San Diego, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the San Diego Police Department, the Upper Deck Co., World Financial Group and Legoland California.

"We try to get as broad a list of employers as we can," said Pam Wells, associate director of the Career Center who coordinated the fair.

A career fair is a good opportunity for students to practice their communication skills in a relaxed and convenient setting, Wells continued.

"It's a great, informal way for students to introduce themselves and get comfortable talking to employers," said Wells. "It's right on campus so students can come between classes and it's much less intimidating than going in for their first formal interview."

During the fair, students walked from table to table under the white tents that circled Library Plaza, collecting business cards and checking out fliers and posters to find out what opportunities were available to them. Some job candidates filled out applications on the spot or participated in impromptu interviews.

"It looks promising, … I got a lot of (business) cards," said Meaghan McGurk, a senior majoring in economics.

McGurk, who passed out resumes and made small talk with recruiters in the finance field, said she was looking to secure a full-time job before graduation.

"It's really scary to get a job at first so this just helps you out, kind of like an extra push," said McGurk, dressed professionally in a black skirt, jacket and heels. "A resume is just on paper. When you have a face attached to that resume, it says so much more, especially when it's attached with a smile."

Across the plaza, senior Ryan Murphy talked to Officer Mike Lassig about what it takes to become a member of the California Highway Patrol. Murphy said he was considering a job in law enforcement, so the career fair was a good way for him to gather information on different departments and get his questions answered.

"I'm winding down as far as school goes and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do in my career," said Murphy. "This is a convenient, easy way to meet people because it's no pressure."

First Investors Corp., which has participated in Cal State San Marcos' job fair for a number of years, looks at the fair as an opportunity to attract qualified candidates and meet prospective employees face to face, said Shavon Amini, a sales supervisor with the company.

"It also allows students to explore a career they didn't know they'd be interested in," Amini said.

- Contact staff writer Noelle Ibrahim at (760) 761-4404 or nibrahim@nctimes.com.