DeKALB — The sixth annual Diversity Reverse Career Fair was held Wednesday with alumni keynote speaker Lauren Scott who is currently a co-host for Chicago’s Best on WGN.

The Diversity Reverse Career Fair is an event meant to help students showcase leadership skills they obtained through their organizations. Student organizations that came out included the Black Student Union, Tau Phi Sigma Multicultural Fraternity and NIU NAACP.

The fair is constructed under the idea of reverse networking, in which diversity-related student organizations set up tables to network with employers and recruiters. A few of the employers in attendance were Oak Brook Productions of WGN-TV Ross Store Inc. and Chicago Public Schools.

Brandon Lagana, Director of Career Services, helps put together the event every year. Lagana said because of the successful turnout in previous years, he was looking forward to this one.

“It’s an event open to all students and an opportunity to get noticed and potentially get hired,” Lagana said.

Scott, who spoke at the event, started her career at NIU where she produced edited and hosted her own Youtube program, Inside the 815, which was later nominated for a Chicago Emmy. Scott’s keynote speech included her personal experiences of trial and error after college.

Scott started as an associate producer for KPRC Local 2 in Houston, Texas and continued to grow her career from there. She went on in her speech to provide recommendations on how to make it into the journalism industry.

“I would not be where I am today if I had not pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone, and I challenge you all to do the same,” Scott said. “You aren’t going to get your dream job by simply working eight hours and then checking out and going home. Always consider your next step and what you can be doing right now.”

Scott said future journalists have to be up to date with what’s going on and have to keep up on sources. She said they have to be working all the time and going the extra mile and to open doors later down the road.

Senior journalism major Dionna Daniel, who is a member of the NABJ [National Association of Black Journalists], said she attended in hopes of gaining an internship or job.

“I think this event helps people who are leaving college especially because there are a lot of companies that come out here in hopes of hiring new employees,” Daniel said. “It’s similar to the regular career fair but different because the companies came to learn about you.”