FAMU hosted its Spring Career and Internship Expo on Wednesday. More than 160 companies were invited to the expo to cater to all colleges on schools on FAMU’s campus.
To adhere to COVID restrictions and guidelines, the expo was held virtually. But is the expo still as beneficial online as it is in-person?
Adrianna Bayles, a political science major, says she thinks the virtual career fair was put together well.
“It felt awkward talking to companies through a computer screen for sure,” Bayles said. “But everything still flowed smoothly.”
Bayles says some of the companies that participated in the expo are stepping stones to the career she really sees for herself.
The Career and Professional Development office sent out emails reminding students to gear up for the expo two weeks in advance. That means polishing resumes, dusting off suits and preparing that elevator speech. Though many students were prepared and ready to hear about job positions, the expo did not truly cater to all students.
Talaiah Mitchell, also a political science major, said she felt like the career fair does not cater to her field of interest.
“It was dull,” she said. “I’m a poly sci major and I felt like there weren’t that many opportunities there for my major and the ones there were more for the security roles of government.”
Mitchell said internships pertaining to working for an official or being a part of a staff of officials would be helpful.
Students in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities have complained about the lack of relevant companies coming to the career fair. Many feel like the expo is catered only to students in the School of Business and Industry or the College of Science and Technology.
Maya Reynolds, an information technology major, says her experiences with the career fair were different from some of her friends.
“I always see tech companies at the career fair that I’m interested in,” Reynolds said. “But for my friends in theater or political science they don’t have as much variety.”
Reynolds says it’s not about the virtual or in-person meet-ups per se, rather the companies that are invited to attend.
The Career and Professional Development office says it has tried to cater more to the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities by hosting a separate career fair just for that college, the largest unit on campus. To stay updated with the Career Center and its endeavors you can visit their website at cpdcenter.famu.edu and also check out their updates through iStrike.