The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

Symposium attendees smile for the camera.
SMU helps women cast a net into the ocean of (net)working
Evangeline Bulick, contributor • March 27, 2024
The observatory sits behind Dallas Hall on Daniel Street
What is that?
March 25, 2024
Instagram

Career Fair a huge success

Senior Prateek Yadav speaks to FDIC examiner Stephen L. Whitworth at the career fair in Hughes-Trigg Thursday afternoon.
Stuart Palley
Senior Prateek Yadav speaks to FDIC examiner Stephen L. Whitworth at the career fair in Hughes-Trigg Thursday afternoon.

Senior Prateek Yadav speaks to FDIC examiner Stephen L. Whitworth at the career fair in Hughes-Trigg Thursday afternoon. (Stuart Palley)

Students flocked to the Hughes-Trigg Student Center on Thursday, clad in their best business clothes and carrying freshly updated résumés in the hopes of receiving a job in the midst of our nation’s struggling economy.

More than 80 businesses seeking potential interns and full-time employees met with students of all majors at The Hegi Family Career Development Center’s biannual Career Fair.

With roughly 6,000 students attending this year, the event is an effective way for students to learn more about their potential careers and also find internships or full-time jobs for this summer or next year.

Darin Ford, director of the Hegi Family Career Development Center, refers to the fair’s set up as “the most effective formula used.”

Each business fills a table with the company’s information and “giveaways” in an effort to attract students. At least two members of the company flank each side of the table ready to answer students’ questions.

Ford explained that this is the best time for students to use what he refers to as a “30 second elevator speech.”

A student should state “what you need to know about me to hire me,” Ford said.

This trick can be used anytime, not just at the Career Fair, Ford said. It is important to present “strengths of yours that are connected to whom you’re in front of,” he said.

Raymond Cheng, a consultant for tax service firm Ryan, noticed an increase in students visiting the fair. The career fair veteran also observed a “definite decrease in recruiting from previous years.”

Recruiting Coordinator for Mohr Partners Erin Edelson also noticed less recruiting.

“People are cutting back pretty drastically,” she said. “While there is definitely less hiring for full-time positions, companies are still hiring interns.”

One of the many SMU students to visit the fair was Blair Flowers, who found the experience of meeting potential employers to be very helpful.

“I was nervous about interviewing for jobs, but speaking with various companies at the Career Fair was great practice,” the junior accounting major said. “I feel like meeting all of these companies gives me an advantage over the students who didn’t attend the fair, which is important in this type of economy.”

More to Discover