Engineering career fairs to feature more than 200 employers

More than 200 employers are seeking Auburn Engineering students for full-time positions, co-ops and internships over the next few weeks as the Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations (CDCR) hosts three career fairs in February.

The first fair, designed for civil and environmental and biosystems engineering students, takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Grand Hall at the Brown-Kopel Center. According to Heather Rush, CDCR manager of Career Coaching, 69 companies are set to attend, with many offering next-day interviews on Feb. 12, also in Brown-Kopel.

The next two career fairs, open to all engineering disciplines, are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 17, and Thursday, Feb. 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Each fair will have 66 employers present, and next-day interviews will follow on the respective Tuesday and Friday.

Rush advises students to prepare by scheduling an appointment with a CDCR career coach through Handshake. During these sessions, students receive assistance with résumés, interview preparation and networking strategies. Additionally, students can attend drop-in sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for quick, 15-minute consultations.

To further prepare for potential interviews, students can participate in strategy sessions with CDCR career coaches, including mock interviews and small-group workshops.

Moreover, CDCR’s Career Fair Ready program takes place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Feb. 10-13 in the Brown-Kopel atrium where students can receive resume reviews or suggestions on how to prepare for the career far, in a first-come, first-served setting.

Rush encourages students to download the Career Fair Plus app to enhance their career fair experiences. The app provides an interactive map of the venue, allows students to filter employers by major and displays available job positions within each company. The app is a convenient tool that allows students to research companies at any time during the career fair.

Students can expect a structured and professional environment at the fairs. For those who have career related questions during the career fair, there will be plenty of CDCR staff members available, including a “green room” for students to take a break, or ask a career coach a quick question

Rush acknowledges that career fairs can be overwhelming for students but emphasizes that CDCR offers multiple resources to help them prepare. She also reassures students that employers are eager to hire Auburn Engineering graduates.

“Employers know the caliber of an engineering student at Auburn, and they want them on their team,” she said. “Our corporate relations team works diligently to strengthen relationships with employers and encourage them to visit campus often to interact with students. It’s important that those employers feel welcomed and are part of the Auburn family.”

Rush recommends that students follow up with the employers they connected with by sending a thank-you email and attaching their résumé.