For the first time in two years, Florida State University students gathered in-person for a career fair at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and an opportunity to network and speak with future employers from a variety of industries.
The FSU Career Center’s flagship event, Seminole Futures, took place Thursday, Jan. 27. The event, which was open to all majors across the university, attracted more than 120 employers and 1,200 students seeking full-time, part-time and internship opportunities.
“These types of events are a win-win for both students and employers,” said Myrna Hoover, director of the FSU Career Center. “It gives students from all majors the opportunity to explore career opportunities, meet prospective employers and practice professional behavior.”
Students networked with a lineup of employers from leading offices nationwide. Employers represented a broad spectrum of companies from many sectors and industries including federal, state and local agencies. Public and private companies were also present as well as nonprofits.
“For employers, Seminole Futures is an efficient and cost-effective way to identify potential employees,” Hoover said. “Representatives of Deloitte, E & J Gallo Winery, Enterprise Holdings, PepsiCo and the CIA are just some of the recruiters eager to greet students this week at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.”
For students, like Mackenzie Dolan, Seminole Futures was an opportunity to connect with employers and find possible internships.
“I’m very grateful for opportunities such as these that FSU provides us students,” said Dolan, an international affairs major. “I feel confident moving forward in my academic career and future professional career having had the ability to network and meet with possible future employers.”
The high number of returning companies stands testament to the success they’ve had hiring FSU students and alumni. For RSM, an audit, tax and consulting firm, FSU students consistently remain their top recruited graduates.
“What makes Florida State students stand out is that they come prepared with what employers are looking for,” said Mike Vergo, partner at RSM. “They are able to look you in the eyes, have a good conversation and forecast what they want out of a career. In our line of business that’s fantastic because we work with clients and the people we hire are not just employees, but they are our revenue source. We need people who can stand up and represent the firm well and Florida State students have done that very nicely.”
Students are met with various opportunities to strengthen their interview and networking skills through the many workshops offered by the Career Center throughout the semester. In the weeks leading up to Seminole Futures, the center offered a variety of events to help students prepare including an in-person STEM Résumé Café and both a virtual and in-person All Majors Resume Café. At these events, career professionals provided one-one-one résumé critiques for students and reviewed nearly 400 résumés.
The virtual Seminole Futures All Majors Career & Internship Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3 via NoleNetwork.
The Career Center is the hub for all things employment and provides students comprehensive, innovative, and inclusive career and employment services that help guide them in every step of their career journeys. The Career Center connects students with professionals and professional opportunities through NoleNetwork, ShadowFSU, ProfessioNole Mentors, InternFSU and more.
For more information about the FSU Career Center, visit career.fsu.edu.
