MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Campus Recreation Center gym was packed with potential at the annual campuswide Big Career Fair, held Thursday, Sept. 25.

Hosted and coordinated by the Career Development Center, there were 220 employers from a wide range of industries — from Tractor Supply to the Tennessee General Assembly — who welcomed a record-breaking number of 2,082 MTSU students and alumni.

“It was such a great opportunity, especially for international students like me,” said Mahina Pranti, an engineering management graduate student from Bangladesh who garnered information from over a half-dozen companies.

Pranti said the career fair was also a big confidence booster and helped build her interview skills as she eyes her future career in civil engineering.

Although there are a variety of other targeted career fairs that the Career Development Center collaborates with other departments on, the annual fall campuswide event is “meant to serve all students, to meet diverse hiring needs that companies have,” said center Director Beka Moore.

 Students are encouraged to dress professionally. But the career fair is also open to those students who are “just browsing and learning what industries come to campus.”

“We  encourage our students to think about getting experience early and often so that by the time they graduate, they feel confident and competent in what they decide to do when they’re ready to pursue an internship, job or graduate school — that first destination, is what we call it,” Moore said, “because we know not everybody goes into the workforce right away.”

Employers who attend the career fair must meet certain criteria in order to participate. Each must offer paid internships or have jobs paying $45,000 or more — or both, Moore adds.

Hunter Greer, a senior supply chain management student from Murfreesboro, counts the career fair a success.

“I talked with several employers in my field, made some good connections and networked,” said Greer, who was open to finding internships, job shadowing opportunities and career placement.

Even though another Big Career Fair is in the books, Moore said the Career Development Center staff stands ready to assist students with their job search efforts with its suite of support services.

“The Career Center is really working to get the word out to students that we’re that bridge to opportunity when they graduate and to help them develop their experience portfolio while they’re still a student,” Moore said. “So we want to see them early and often so we can help them in all facets of their experience.”

The Career Development Center is located in Room 328 of Keathley University Center. Learn more by visiting https://www.mtsu.edu/career/ or by calling 615-898-2500.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)

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