Students impress at Career Fair

Normally scruffy-looking students cleaned up to look their best this past Monday and Tuesday at Tech's annual Career Fair, held at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

The fair is an effective recruitment tool for many companies as well as an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D. students and alumni to explore employment options. It was well attended by job-seeking students and even experienced some crowding problems.

Over 300 companies sent 1,400 representatives to recruit at the fair this year. Among those represented were Honda, Waltman Group, Microsoft, Radiant Systems, Siemens, Rolls Royce, Cisco Systems, Schneider Elastic, MathWorks, Capital One, Amazon.com, Trinity Consultants, Turner Broadcasting, AuthenTec and the CIA.

Students registered for the fair at the door and were able to gain access to everything the fair had to offer by showing their Buzzcards. The fair was split into 15 sections in a unique circular setup that proved popular with both students and recruiters.

A representative from Amazon.com said that "the circular format...was a very effective setup." Yang from AuthenTec, a biometric sensors firm, said she enjoyed the "increase in number of [potential] student employees due to the circular format."

Students were able to engage in conversations with recruiters and left employers with many favorable impressions.

Julie Williams of Waltman Group, Inc., a civil engineering firm, said she was "very impressed [with students] who seemed ready to enter the real world." Dustin Stites of Amazon.com said that Tech students were "highly intelligent, [had] received a well-rounded education and had some of the best diversity in the nation."

Students likewise enjoyed their interactions with representatives.

Melissa Watkins, a second-year Electrical Engineering major, said that "some representatives made students feel very welcome and comfortable-they see the potential in you and are able to provide you with a better response."

The Career Fair was an opportunity for students to explore various industries and also to refine and polish their presentation and technical communication skills.

Employment recruiters offered tips for successful recruitment meetings and interviews.

Williams recommended that students brush up on their technological know-how. "Computer skills are key," Williams said.

She also advised students to "speak up" and express themselves in a refined manner. According to Williams, strong voice projection develops confidence and a sense of professionalism that helps to increase hiring potential.

Andy Hixson of Trinity Consultants, an environmental consulting company that focuses on air quality, said that "background research is vital."

Not doing your homework on the companies you speak with may make you appear uninformed and unprepared.

Students also need to be "flexible, quick learners [who are] able to adapt to different situations," Yang said.

All of the recruiters agreed that experience is necessary, since it solidifies skills and allows employers to determine the abilities and capabilities of their potential employees.

A student-run event, the Career Fair was beneficial for both recruiters and students.

Hixson of Trinity Consultants said that "a high percentage of recruitment [for his company] is done at the Career Fair."

"The career fair was well-suited to the large volume of people that attended and was better organized [than last year]," said Abhishek Chandrasekhar, a second-year Electrical Engineering major.

The positive feedback from employers and students ensures the continuation and further development of this professional tradition.