Career fairs rarely cater to all students

Photo Courtesy of FAMU's office of Academic Success.

Imagine attending a university for four years and not knowing what steps to take after receiving your diploma. You get in the real world and have trouble connecting with people and landing your dream job. Going to a career expo may not be a bad idea if it is held in your town or even at your university.

The Career Expo is an excellent opportunity for students to network and build relationships within the business world. Organizations and Fortune 500 companies from the local, state, non-profit and governmental industries attend each year.

At Florida A&M University, career expos are held each semester and all students are encouraged to dress professionally, bring their resumes and see what is in store for them at the career fair.

Most students take advantage of these opportunities and find internships or potential jobs. They also make connections with future employers who are willing to assist them through the rest of their collegiate career.

Junior business major Anthony Bell said, “I like them to a certain extent. Most of the internships I’ve got though have been on my own. I feel like they are beneficial only if you trying to go into corporate business.”

In comparison, some students do not believe career expos cater to their field of study and are a waste of time. Every expo does not have the same recruiters, but some students feel like the recruiters at these expos are only looking for a certain field.  

Recently, students have been voicing their opinion on the career expos that are held on campus via social media. Some students share the good news of landing a job while others voice their opinion of not finding hope after attending an expo.

“I don’t go to FAMU career fairs because they are only beneficial to business and STEM students, sometimes education. But social sciences, we go in there looking dumb, trying to get a Ford internship with a criminal justice or social work degree,” said senior social science major Bryant Floyd.

Although career expos may not have recruiters for all majors, students are encouraged to visit the career center for additional help.

“I haven’t attended a career expo since my freshman year. I just went for fun, but my friends go often, and their opinions vary. The career center should definitely listen to what the students are saying and try to bring in recruiters for every major. With that in place, students will feel like they may have an easier chance at finding a job after graduation,” said junior animal science major Jocelyn Gunn.