College to host virtual Engineering and Technology Career Fair

The Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations (CDCR) in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will host a virtual Engineering and Technology Career Fair on Wednesday and Thursday, September 16 and 17. Students will have the opportunity to meet with a wide range of employers through an intuitive, user-friendly online interface.

“This is a great opportunity for students to get to know the current job market,” said Apryl Mullins, CDCR’s assistant director of corporate relations. “Despite the pandemic and alternate work arrangements, employers are still looking for qualified students to fill co-op, intern and full-time positions, so we encourage all interested students to sign up for one-on-one meetings.”

The virtual career fair format offers participants a number of benefits over a traditional career fair format. Student participants will be required to select individual time-slots to meet with their companies of interest. These meetings, while not job interviews, allow the student to learn more about the employer and any open positions the company may have available. The virtual career fair has also enticed the participation of employers who might not have been able to attend a typical in-person event.

“We’re excited to have 125 employers signed on to participate in this event,” she said. “Committing to a full-day event on campus isn’t always feasible, but the virtual format opens up the opportunity for a more diverse group of employers who are excited to talk to our Auburn Engineering students.”

Jessica Bowers, manager for career development and coaching, recently conducted a Career Fair Prep Workshop with Veonicca Wesley, principal systems engineer and recruiter for Raytheon Technologies. They offered several tips for students to make the most of the virtual career fair experience:

• Review the step-by-step guide to access the fair on Career Fair+.
• Prepare a professional and thorough resume.
• Identify target employers in advance and reserve meeting times with each. Focus on quality rather than quantity. 
• Practice a one-minute personal introduction, or elevator pitch, for conversations with employers. 
• Simulate the virtual interactions of an online career fair in advance with a friend or family member.
• Make a post-career fair plan to follow up with employers.