Students practiced pitches, explored job opportunities and networked at the advanced manufacturing, technology, and engineering expo Thursday. Hosted by the career development and engagement office, the expo was held at the Cooper Alumni Center.

Demi Foucault, project engineer for Hytrol, said expos like this are important to students and employers. 

“I think having a lot of vendors here to expose students to what those industries look like is of great value to students. And then on the other side for employers, it helps us bring in new, fresh talent and young ideas,” Foucault said. 

Students visited booths tailored to their interests and major. The expo hosted representatives from Frito-Lay, PepsiCo, Nucor Steel and Dassault Falcon, among others. 

While the majority of attendees were engineering majors, the event was open to any interested students. 

Richard Falting, a sophomore electrical engineering major from Shreveport, Louisiana, said expos are a great way to build confidence.

“Being able to practice like this is great, where it’s very low stress, it’s not a one-on-one like a big interview or anything, it’s just coming to meet people and kind of explain about yourself,” Falting said. “You learn what people want. So even if you’re not going to get the job you want immediately, it’s definitely good to help you for the future.”

This event differed from past versions, as the career development department tweaked the expo to focus on distinct fields of study. They invited employers from specific industries to allow for more meaningful interactions.

Elizabeth White, assistant director of career development and student engagement, said they wanted to “break the model” of traditional career expos by scaling down the number of employers they invite.

White said job hunting and applying can be a daunting task, so more intimate expos like this allow for students to gain valuable experience and practice and, for some, lead to direct employment after graduation. 

White said there are a few important things students can do to fully prepare. 

“First, practice your elevator pitch in the mirror. Understand that you’re smiling and you’re making eye contact. Then, come prepared with either your past experience or come up with some questions about some of the employers here. And have your resume reviewed,” White said. 

Students can have their resume reviewed by contacting the career development and engagement office by email or in person at the Cooper Alumni Center. Email at careers.AState.edu 

White said A-State plans to host many more expos in the future, specifically the education fair in the spring semester.

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