In an effort to support over 1,200 students for the second complement of Arch away opportunities following the summer of 2020, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute continues to engage and build partnerships with top industry employers. Through a collaborative effort, the CCPD works closely with companies to create a campus presence for their organization, to market their employment opportunities to Rensselaer students, and ultimately, to fulfill their recruitment needs.

With a variety of opportunities for employers to get to know our students at Rensselaer, the spring career fair tops the list. Every February over 150 companies from all industries and sectors participate with nearly 2,000 students in attendance, creating an excellent opportunity for both employers and candidates to connect.

During this event, employers have the opportunity to engage with and compete for top-quality students who match their desired skill set and unique environment in architecture; business; engineering; humanities, arts, and social sciences; information technology; and science.

From large-scale Fortune 100 companies to local startups, the 2020 spring career fair attracts a variety of organizations that appeal to Rensselaer students, including Hasbro, Cisco Systems, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, GE, Sandia National Laboratories, Bloomberg, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), to name a few.

From a student perspective, this event provides an opportunity to network with prospective employers, including over 100+ Rensselaer alumni recruiters, to obtain information about various industries and open positions, to generate a list of professional contacts, and most importantly, to personally express their interest by submitting their resume for consideration.

Leading up to the career fair, the CCPD hosts resume critique and interviewing strategy sessions for individual students and student organizations. Additionally, the CCPD offers advanced training for students on how to review and research employers; dress appropriately for the various networking events; set career expectations and goals; and create a personal brand strategy and develop their “pitch” to employers.

These efforts are in addition to a customized, virtual career development course created with industry in mind for sophomore students in each of the five schools at Rensselaer. The curriculum includes instructor-led modules on topics such as resume and cover letter creation, interview preparation, soft skill development, and professional networking.

“Connecting Rensselaer students to top-notch employers seeking their desired skill set is our goal. Whether a student is searching for a co-op, internship, or full-time permanent job opportunity, the spring career fair is an excellent venue at which to network and explore the companies we have built strong relationships with,” said Evan Young, associate director, employer relations. “This event is particularly important for Arch students to market the advanced knowledge and specialized skills they have gained from the summer semester to secure an away opportunity or to share with employers the experiences they have achieved from their semester away to secure a job after graduation.”

The 41st Annual National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)/Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Fall Career Fair is tentatively scheduled for September 18-19. If the event is canceled due to COVID-19, the CCPD plans to host a virtual career fair or a series of virtual employer events as alternatives. Whether in-person or virtually, students will still have the opportunity to connect with employers for networking and advising opportunities. Although this recruiting season may look different from the previous one, we’re committed to helping students advance their careers and grow personally under these unique circumstances.