Students and recruiters filled the Exhibition Hall with professional conversation on Wednesday, Sept. 8, during a diversity-focused career networking event. The Career Center hosted the Diversity First Career Mixer to connect students looking for jobs, internships or co-ops with employers seeking a diverse workforce.
Students could wander through the space at the mixer and chat with representatives from the 35 employers attending. Some notable employers included AT&T, Equifax, Kia and Manhattan Associates.
Student experience at career events can vary greatly depending on individual goals and personal education progress. Upper-level students may be looking to secure a job post-graduation, while other students may be looking to secure their first internship, and some students, like Nick Abomi, first-year BIOL, are just looking to see what opportunities are out there.
“My biggest influence is my dad. He told me to come and keep my mind open while looking for internships in chemistry and engineering. He has encouraged me to expand my horizons,” Abomi said.
Even though Abomi was not looking to apply for any opportunities in the near future, he was able to talk to some recruiters about the skills they were looking for.
“I asked one recruiter how someone of my skill set could impact a company like [the one he was representing]. He told me about different areas and advised me to learn how to code. He told me the best way to learn is by diversifying my skill set,” Abomi said.
Going to any career event as a student can be nerve-wracking, but Kunal Mohindra, fourth-year CS, says being able to step outside of one’s comfort zone is a valuable and learned skill.
“In my past internship, I have learned a lot about getting out of my comfort zone. At this career fair, I am putting myself into uncomfortable situations by talking to people and seeing how we connect. I am looking forward to networking with new employers and better understanding the impact I can make in the software engineering world,” Mohindra said.
Employers weren’t the only ones looking for students at the mixer — diversity-focused professional societies were also looking to promote their organizations. The National Society of Black Engineers at Tech (GTNSBE) attended the mixer to promote their career help resources.
Miles Joseph, fourth-year NEURO and GTNSBE Conference Planning Chair, said that he wanted to help point students in the right direction and make sure they are aware of all the resources they have access to.
“The goal this year is to represent [GTNSBE’s] theme around campus, and we hope to expand our organization in that way. We are prioritizing helping our members reach new heights socially, professionally and academically,” Joseph said.
Kennedy Collins, second-year ME and GTNSBE member, added that GTNSBE is looking to foster a closer community that encourages diverse representation.
“We want to let people know that we are open to others and are interested in creating a community within the campus community, especially since black students are so underrepresented in the campus community,” Collins said.
Collins also said she has seen much student motivation, especially from younger students. She says opportunities are out there for those who want them.
“I have also spoken to a lot of first-years. Many of them are hoping to get involved with something quickly. At GTNSBE, first-year students can get involved in the executive board and use our resources to find other opportunities,” Collins said.
At the beginning of the event, the crowd was fairly light, and it was easy to navigate the space to find employers, but as the event continued, a line began to form to get into the event and have a chance to speak to recruiters.
“The line outside moved pretty fast. The people in charge definitely knew what they were doing,” said Andrew Armah, fourth-year NRE. “I think I have already improved my networking abilities, and this event was a chance to apply them. I was really hoping to talk to GE VERNOVA, and when I got the chance, we had a good conversation. They told me they would reach out later.”
It can be hard for many students to know what exactly will catch a recruiter’s eye at a career event, but one recruiter at the Diversity First Career Mixer told the Technique what qualities will help students succeed at networking events. Andi Godfrey, Professional Engineer at Martin/Martin, inc., said individuality and research are key.
“Doing work ahead of time, having unique things that you can talk about and knowing what questions to ask about in order to get the info you need are all part of being successful at networking events,” Godfrey said.