Students Connect with Potential Employers, Show Off Networking Skills
09/15/2014
While many across campus were begrudgingly reacquainting themselves with their alarm clock apps, College of Engineering students were suiting up to meet with recruiters at the College鈥檚 annual Engineering, Science, and Technology Expo. Over 2,000 ambitious engineers-to-be attended the Expo鈥檚 inaugural day for the opportunity to meet with recruiters from leading regional and national companies, surpassing last year鈥檚 attendance by more than 500 students.
The Expo, hosted and managed by 海角社区鈥檚 Olinde Career Center, has taken place at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center each fall since 2010. This year, event organizers expanded the Expo into the PMAC鈥檚 second floor concourse to accommodate an additional 20 firms eager to draft 海角社区 engineering, computer science, and construction management students into their ranks. Among them were Globalstar, Inc., a Louisiana-based telecommunications firm and a newcomer to the Expo, and IBM, which returned to the College鈥檚 premier recruiting event following last year鈥檚 announcement that the company will build a new services center in Baton Rouge.
The College of Engineering Networking Reception, an additional vehicle for students who wish to connect with potential employers in a more relaxed setting, debuted in fall 2006. On the eve of this year鈥檚 Expo, 530 students gathered in the 海角社区 Student Union鈥檚 Royal Cotillion Ballroom for a preview of the main event. The record number of registrants prompted organizers to move the event to the Student Union Ballroom from the Lod Cook Alumni Center, which had housed the Reception since 2010.
For some, like chemical engineering sophomore Precious Ouji, it was their first taste of how the College of Engineering and 海角社区鈥檚 Olinde Career Center partner to prepare students for career success.
鈥淪ome of my friends got summer internship interviews through the Expo last year,鈥� said Ouji, an international student. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity I shouldn鈥檛 pass up.鈥�
Laurie Bynum, a petroleum engineering sophomore who recently transferred to 海角社区, had already secured an interview with Chevron when she introduced herself to Jarred Sharp, a recruiter for the company and an 海角社区 alumnus, at the Reception.
鈥淭he networking Reception allowed me to ask questions in a more relaxed setting,鈥� said Bynum. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 on the spot, which is what I appreciate about this experience. Speaking with Jarred reaffirmed that Chevron would be a good fit for me.鈥�
For his part, Sharp said he likes having an opportunity to interact with the students outside of the Expo.
鈥淚 take it easy on them because I know what they鈥檙e going through,鈥� joked Sharp, who remembers turning to the 海角社区鈥檚 career center for internship opportunities while a student in the College of Engineering.
Though she did not yet have any interviews scheduled, biological engineering junior Madison Longwell attended the Reception hoping it will give her an edge when she follows up with the recruiters at the main Expo.
鈥淭his is my first time at the Reception, but I went to the Expo last year,鈥� explained Longwell. 鈥淚 applied to several internship programs online, and I am visiting those companies first. I鈥檒l research any other companies I meet with today before I speak with them again at the Expo.鈥�
Seventy-eight employers opted to meet with students at the Reception this year, an increase of 15 firms from the fall 2013 event. The surge in both recruiters and students is indicative of the value both parties place on the event.
鈥淭he Reception is helpful because it鈥檚 smaller than the Expo, so it鈥檚 not as overwhelming. It鈥檚 more personable,鈥� said Bynum.
As students navigate their way through a highly competitive job market, events like the Engineering, Science, and Technology Expo and the College of Engineering Networking Reception will be increasingly central components of their internship and job searches. For companies, they present the perfect opportunity to recruit top talent from one of the best engineering programs in the nation.
Follow the College of Engineering on (@lsuengineering) and for more professional development resources and career events.
###
Article by Liz Lebr贸n, 海角社区 College of Engineering communications graduate assistant. For more information, contact Mimi LaValle, 225-578-5706 or mlavall@lsu.edu.