Business Career Fair a huge success

Monday, September 26, 2011

Mindy Anderson brought 15 résumés with her to Oklahoma State University’s Business Career Fair Thursday afternoon inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The junior from Blackwell, Okla., soon realized she had made a big mistake as she met with representatives from Chesapeake Energy, ConocoPhillips, Koch Industries and several other companies looking for future employees.

Anderson was one of approximately 1,250 Oklahoma State students who attended the four-hour event in hopes of either securing an internship or full-time employment with any of the 500 recruiters representing 145 companies during Thursday’s event.

“I brought 15 résumés and I gave out all of them. I wish I would have brought more,” said Anderson, an accounting major in the Spears School of Business.

But even though she ran out résumés it was still worthwhile for Anderson and many others who participated in the career fair.

“It would be great to find an internship with somebody that I could go to work full-time with after graduating,” she said. “Devon Energy talked about wanting people to go to Houston, and that’s ultimately where I’d like to end up. That would be great to get hooked up with them. I’m excited. I’ve never been to anything like this and I think it went well.”

Former Oklahoma State basketball player Nick Sidorakis spent much of the previous four seasons on the maple floor inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. On Thursday afternoon, he was walking the concourse inside the historic arena meeting with prospective employers.

“It’s my first time to really go around and give my résumé out. I really just want to get my face in front of some people in a network environment and tell them a little bit about my background, as well as see what their company is about,” said Sidorakis, who will graduate in December with a degree in entrepreneurship and a minor in marketing. “And, hopefully I’ll get a couple of interviews.”

Securing an interview was the goal of many of students attending the Career Fair, but only a select few like Anderson were rewarded for their efforts. She will be interviewing with Devon Energy early next week.

Chuck Shirley says it’s about more than just getting in front of one company.

“My objective is to network and continue conversations with employers and make new contacts with employers I haven’t spoken with,” said Shirley, an MBA student at OSU’s Spears School of Business. “It’s been a great success. I’ve had a chance to catch up with some people that I’ve talked to previously, and then I’ve made some really good leads that I haven’t talked to before. I know it’s been tremendous for me.”

The day also appeared to be a huge success for many of the recruiters who spent four hours talking with students.

“I really want to find two really, really good people that have the opportunity to move into management pretty quickly if that’s what they want, and I believe that’s what this job fair will provide for us,” said Amanda Coleman, a partner with New York Life Insurance Company in Oklahoma City.

“There’s always a group of great students. They’re dressed well, they’re well spoken, they’re ready to go. But I kind of expect that. I’ve been here for many, many years as a student and alumni and now as a recruiter, and this is what I’ve always seen. The quality of students is phenomenal. It’s been a very good experience.”

Lindsay Vallaster, the Spears School’s career coordinator for undergraduate students, couldn’t have been more pleased with how the day went.

“As a career coordinator, I am always pleased to see the professionalism of our students in how they present themselves as well as through their interaction with the employer representatives,” she said. “In addition, feedback from the employers was equally as encouraging as they are very complimentary about the preparation of the students, the organization of the fair, and the hospitality that is extended by students, faculty and staff of Career Services and the college.

“The Business Career Fair was a huge success!”