As many as 50 employers will visit Texas A&M University-San Antonio for the Spring 2024 Internship and Summer Job Fair 1-4 p.m. Feb. 28 in the first-floor lobby of the Science and Technology Building.
Hosted by the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, the event will include companies, organizations and agencies such as USAA, Air Force Civilian Service, Enterprise, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and ChildCare Careers.
Internships can be career builders
Karen Ivy, director of Career Services at the Mays Center, said students with jobs or internships in their future career fields are twice as likely to secure a job after graduation, according to Gallup.
“So that’s huge,” Ivy said in an interview Feb. 12. “I mean, gosh, that’s what we want for our students, is you graduate and get the job that you’re hoping to get. And we hear that these relevant experiences — be it an internship or a job, in your field — are going to make all the difference.”
Ivy said an internship usually has a start and end date with specific learning objectives, unlike a traditional job.
Resumes, attire and interviewing skills: the Mays Center helps students prepare for the job market
Although Ivy recommends that students bring their resumes, they should try to tailor each resume to fit a certain job or internship. For help with their resumes, students can visit or make an appointment with the Mays Center in Suite 111 of the Science and Technology Building.
Ivy said some employers might not accept a resume at the fair because they want all candidates to apply equally. Employers may direct students to their website to apply.
In addition to a resume, students are encouraged to bring portfolios or samples of their work.
The event can also help students introduce themselves to employers and gain more experience by practicing interviewing or networking.
Ivy said students attending the job fair should wear business casual clothing such as slacks, button-up tops or skirts. Business professional wear is also encouraged.
“Most students are not wearing that to class, so it shows the intentionality,” Ivy said. “As a student, I’m showing them I’m really serious about this.”
The Mays Center offers free business attire and professional clothes from the Career Closet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
So far, 29 companies had confirmed their participation as of Feb. 22, and nine were pending confirmation.
Ivy encouraged students to research companies before the event. Students also should tailor their resumes to what employers are searching for. This will help students better prepare to talk to employers and show initiative. Students also can find out companies’ core values and align them with their own experience.
“And you will wow them because most people don’t take that much time in advance to prepare,” Ivy said.
Employers can be more than what they seem
Ivy said students should not overlook companies that, on the surface, don’t seem like a good match. For example, USAA is primarily an insurance company, but it also has departments such as accounting, information technology and communications.
For students who are anxious about attending, Ivy recommends using the Mays Center’s online interviewing software, Big Interview, or visiting a career adviser at the Mays Center to practice speaking with employers.
“So practice with us first. … It will make that interaction on the day of the career fair so much smoother,” she said. “And even if it’s not perfect — I’ve had students come back, like, ‘Oh, my voice kind of quivered,’ and ‘I know I was nervous.’
“You know what? Some employers will think, ‘Gosh this student cares enough to be nervous.’ It’s not like you totally bombed it. It’s OK. It’s all right. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do want to showcase the best version of yourself, and that just takes practice.”
This is the third year the Mays Center has hosted the fair.
For more information, visit JagSync Spring 2024 Internship & Summer Job Fair – JagSync 2.0 (campuslabs.com)
Juliette Vasquez contributed to this story.
