The Future Awaits

College. The seven-letter word that has become synonymous with “the time of your life.” While college is exciting and full of new experiences, it is a step toward the future, where jobs await.

Career Development Services at Auburn University serves as a stepping stone between colleges and employers. As many as four career fairs a year are held on or around Auburn University’s campus as a way for students to network with companies.

Nelly Gonzalez, 21, a senior in public relations, attended the university’s most recent career fair held at the AU Hotel and Conference Center.

“It was my first career fair,” says Gonzalez. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”

What Gonzalez could expect is hundreds of students waltzing their way around the two ballrooms full of companies hoping to find their potential employer. If not to find their potential employer, then students network and learn more about different organizations and available positions.

“It was intimidating,” says Gonzalez. “All of the people around you are competing for the same jobs you are, and you have to make yourself stand out.”

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One of the main things career services will advise students on is learning to sell themselves. The businesses participating in the career fair are there to meet as many potential employees as time allows. That means a candidate has about 60 seconds or less to say who they are, what their objective is and what makes them unique.

“I thought it was going to be a lot like speed dating,” laughed Gonzalez. “And it was.”

A career fair can be confusing with all the businesses participating. It is important to research the companies beforehand because a lot of them do not say who they are or what they do, they assume you know.
Participating in a career fair opens doors for potential employees and offers a chance for students to meet businesses.

“I chose to come because graduation is approaching and I need to open up every door I possibly can,” says Gonzalez.
Gonzalez advises for students to go into career fairs with an open mind because many of them did not ask “what do you want?”

Statistics from career fairs show that up to 49 percent of candidates receive initial interviews from job fairs and that 65 percent of those receive job offers.

“If you give these companies a shot,” says Gonzalez, “they have something to offer, you just have to be willing to listen.”