The Office of Career Services at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is set to host its 40th annual career fair on Sept. 9-10 with the theme, “Unlocking your Potential.”Many exhibits are invited to the career fair. Students of various majors have an opportunity to network with several recruiters and companies in order to market themselves.
In lieu of the upcoming career fair, career services is hosting an employer resume drive where students will have an opportunity to have their resume critiqued by employer representatives.
Many students are preparing themselves, perfecting their elevator speeches, and polishing their resumes for the career fair because they believe it is beneficial. Students are seeking out internships, job opportunities, and even volunteer experience.
“I think it’s beneficial since it helps a lot of people get internships as well as jobs. My goal is to get an internship for the summertime,” said Tiffany Richmond, a junior Biology student from Winston Salem. “I’m just trying to get my resume together,” she said.
“The career fair has great opportunities for internships, and co-ops, and just places where you can get experience before you graduate,” said Jasmine Taylor, a junior Computer Science Engineering student from Atlanta, Ga. “My goal is to find an internship and if not an internship, just a place where I can learn something for my career and gain experience,” Taylor said.
N.C. A&T houses many different majors for students to choose from; however, some students believe that the career fair only caters to certain majors.
“I’m probably not going to the career fair this year,” said Rae’Ghan Foster, a junior Fashion Merchandising and Design student from Spartanburg, S.C. “Usually they don’t really have anything that fits my major, so nobody will be here for me to talk to. It is mainly for Engineering and Business majors,” Foster said.
“I didn’t plan on going to the career fair because they don’t have much that fits my needs” said Alexa English, a junior Journalism and Mass Communications student from Charlotte, N.C. “They should provide more communications at the fair. Then again, we go to an engineering school, so most of the people that are at the career fair are looking for engineering students.”
“There are not many companies for biology students because there are a lot of us who are going in to the medical field right after we graduate or wanting to go to medical school,” said Richmond. “There aren’t many options for us. It’s usually only one or two.”
- Mija Gary Register Reporter