Food and industry management senior Elizabeth Manning had specific goals for her visit to the 40th Annual Minority Career Fair.
"I'm looking for an internship," she said, taking a break from writing her name on a white name tag. "Hopefully, I'll get an internship so it'll be easier to get a full-time job."
Manning joined hundreds of other job-hopeful students Thursday night at the Kellogg Center, where more than 100 companies met and spoke with potential recruits. As many as 2,500 students were expected to attend the three-hour event.
"It's always been well-attended," said Theda Rudd, assistant director of the Office of Placement Services. "There are a lot of students that receive jobs and internships through this."
The Minority Career Fair, which is open to all students, is the second largest career fair on campus, Rudd said. All students were encouraged to come dressed in business attire and armed with plenty of résumés. The event is sponsored each year by the Office of Career Services and Placement with the help of a student advisory committee.
"It's wonderful," said finance sophomore Bernard Morgan II, who was part of the student committee for this year's fair. "It's a great opportunity for students to get jobs and network."
One of the suggestions this year's committee made was to change the name of the fair in order to update it and make it more inclusive. Beginning next year, the event's name will be changed to the Diversity Career Fair.
"We felt the name was dated after 40 years," Rudd said.
Janaia Moore attended the event so she could meet potential employers face-to-face as an alternative to just sending out résumés by e-mail.
"I graduate in May, so I'm getting a head start," the interdisciplinary studies in social science senior said. "Hopefully, I'll get some interviews and learn more about companies to follow up on."
The annual fair also is beneficial for the companies that attend. Stephanie DeByle, a claim service supervisor for Foremost Insurance Group, said her company was looking to promote itself as well as hire.
DeByle said, though her company has participated in many career fairs before, this was the first time it had come to MSU.
"It's huge - we're quite impressed," she said.
Accounting senior Deanna Reamer said that companies are attracted to the fair each year because it gives them direct access to the diverse student population at MSU.
"All the companies are looking to hire students ready to work in diverse environments," she said. "By coming here, the companies already know they're getting top-notch diverse students."
