The Arkansas State University Business & Technology Career Fair is a professional networking and recruitment event that connects students and alumni with corporate employers.

Hosted by the A-State Career Development and Engagement Office at the Cooper Alumni Center, the event focused on job and internship opportunities in the corporate, financial, management, and technology sectors.

Paula Hughes, a career counselor for the Career Development and Engagement Office, said the fair serves as a gateway for students to explore opportunities beyond the classroom and kick-start their careers while showcasing the quality of A-State students to potential employers.

“For us, it’s all about these students and preparing them for that next step in their career. So, we want students; we want employers to come, and we want them to realize what great students we have here at Arkansas State,” said Hughes.

Hughes said the fair gives students a chance to keep their options open while learning to think outside the box. She said she hopes the event serves as a bridge allowing students to take advantage of their resources.

“Your education is important, but your networking is just as important,” Hughes said.

Hughes said she wants to prepare college students for the workforce while helping them develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

“We want to also talk to employers and find out, like, what are we missing, like what do our students need to improve upon so we’re always learning along with the students,” Hughes said.

Ruby Schucker, a talent acquisition specialist at Acxiom, said two beneficial skills that students should focus on developing are time management and problem-solving.

“Students should look more into developing some problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, so that whenever there’s a problem that arises, they can actually give input in a meeting or any types of solutions they can provide,” Schucker said.

Schucker said students should engage with the people interviewing them and never be too shy to ask questions, believing those qualities are key to building a long-lasting career.

Desiree Thompson, another talent acquisition specialist, said learning how to recover from mistakes is an important part of entering the workforce.

“In education, you learn about doing well, and you are given a lot of accolades for making an A on a test, but you don’t know how to fail forward,” Thompson said. “When you get into corporate America or when you are working, you’ll have to learn how to recover well from failure, and that’s something that isn’t often taught in the classroom.”

Zoe Barrick, a campus recruiter for Total Quality Logistics, said communication skills are important for job success and keeping everyone on the same page.

“Someone who can come up and pitch themselves, no matter what their experience is or what types of internships they’ve worked,” Barrick said.

Students attended the event to learn how they could better prepare for their careers while employers offered them advice.

Kyson Goodman, a business administration and marketing major from Paragould, Arkansas, said he feels prepared to enter the workforce through his marketing coursework and his professors’ guidance, but also wants to improve his soft skills such as communication.

“I would just say probably just more social skills,” Goodman said. “I think it’s very important that you’re able to carry on a conversation and make that conversation go the way you want it to.”

Jace Tillman, a supply chain major from Russellville, Arkansas, agreed that while students can learn in the classroom, nothing compares to real-world experience in high-pressure situations.

“It’s just gonna be a matter of you never really being fully ready until you take that step,” Tillman said. “When the stadium pulse is on, and you’re in the moment, it’s like it’s gonna be a lot different.”

Alex Gates, a business administration major from Hot Springs, Arkansas, said communication is another important skill, particularly when it comes to listening.

“Active listening is one of those big things nowadays that you have to actually learn how to do, especially when people have short attention spans, and they’re too focused on trying to get out their point rather than actually listen and engage in actual conversation,” Gates said.

Career fairs continue to highlight A-State students’ development to prospective employers and provide a way for students to learn which skills they’ll need to succeed in an evolving workforce. Despite changes in technology and the workplace, employers continue to value integrity, personality, a strong work ethic, and organizational skills. Those qualities can help students move beyond meeting expectations and position themselves for long-term success.

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