Career fair offers opportunities, experience

Career Week continued Tuesday, Feb. 19 with a non-technical career fair in the second floor Memorial Student Center ballroom.

Among the 67 companies scheduled to attend, were City of Houston, Dell Inc., Spectra Energy, State Farm Insurance and Texas Department of Public Safety.

Shadia Washington, career fair coordinator, wanted students to network with recruiters to secure several job offers by the time of their graduation.

Washington said employers were looking for good quality students.

"We always get compliments on how professional our students are and how prepared they are," said Washington.

She added that students had a high probability of getting called in for an interview and that they should not become discouraged by the number of technical and engineering companies at the fair.

"We do have other opportunities available for these students," said Washington.

Planning the career fair took nearly three months, Washington said, but the most challenging part was getting students acclimated to the NACElink system, National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The system allows students to go online, view national job postings and post their resumes.

Khalilah Moore, senior electrical engineering major said, "There are a lot of opportunities for internships and a lot of jobs available. It's a great networking tool."

"It gives you a basis of the business world, teaches you to communicate effectively with employers and manage your money," said Moore.

Sophomore engineering major, Brent Dirden, attended the career fair for the fourth time.

"I'm hoping to get an internship that will put me in the door as far as getting familiar with companies that are looking for MIS and CIS majors," he said.

Some students, like Brandon McGuty, a junior civil engineering major, had already secured positions with companies at the event.

"I just came out today to find out what I'm going to be doing," said McGuty, who plans to work for the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

"Hopefully students can come here, network and obtain part-time or a fulltime jobs," he said.