Large business and engineering career fair gives Liberty students early networking experience

As Liberty University students complete coursework and assignments to prepare for their future professions, career fairs allow them to explore potential future internships and jobs.

These industry-specific events, sponsored by Career Services, help ease the job search process and connect quality candidates with employers from their respective fields. Career Services hosts over 14 career fairs each academic year.

On Tuesday, Liberty welcomed representatives from 100 companies to the LaHaye Multipurpose Center for the Fall 2024 Business & Engineering Career Fair. Companies ranged from the food and beverage industry (Little Debbie, Chick-fil-A of Burlington, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.) to governmental entities (FBI, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and Space Force), the construction industry (Crowder Construction, Caton Construction, James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Co., Inc.), and several businesses from various fields offering engineering opportunities (Framatome, Clark Nexsen, Total Plastic Solutions, ProMach, BWXT Technologies). Over 700 students attended the event.

“Career fairs offer the ability to network with a variety of companies all at once,” said Temple Ansell, assistant director of employer relations for Career Services. “These events are beneficial in job search efforts and expanding professional connections. Not only can students practice their networking skills, but they can also gain exposure to employers that they may otherwise have never thought to engage. Furthermore, career fairs provide an opportunity for students to learn how to become competitive in their field.”

Ansell said every student, from freshmen to graduate students, can benefit from attending these events, and noted that students often erroneously wait until their junior or senior years to begin searching for jobs. Starting early allows students to build crucial connections that may open the door to better job opportunities.

“I think it is very important to attend something like this to network with other firms that are out here and to truly connect with them,” finance sophomore Travis Schmidt said. “If you are looking for internships for the summer, I think it is very important that you get your name out there and to know what each company is about. That way you can connect with each one of them.”

 Mechanical engineering senior Joseph Krahn said he has completed summer internships at two companies that have been represented at Liberty career fairs.

“The career fair has played such an important part in giving me networking opportunities to meet people,” he said. “In the real world, it’s sometimes more about who you know and less about what you know, because of relationships. If you can use career fairs to form relationships with different companies and managers at those companies, those can sometimes be your greatest asset and the launch pad into things you could never have planned for.”

Operating out of the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success (CASAS), Career Services offers one-on-one career coaching for students to help them discover their career interests, develop career plans, build networks, and seek practical experiences. Students can schedule in-person coaching meetings on the digital platform Handshake or visit Career Services in the Montview Student Union Room 2560.

“Career Services, through our coaching and career fairs, prepare students and connect them with employers where they will be Champions for Christ on the job,” Fendrich, Assistant Director of Career Coaching, said. “Additionally, Career Services prepares the students to competitively represent their academics and experiences to help them obtain internships and jobs. Those internships and jobs will provide a means for our students to utilize their God-given gifts and serve the world around them.”

In addition to Career Services, CASAS also supports the Liberty student body by providing tutoring writing services, academic mentoring, success courses, and professional advising.

The Business & Engineering Career Fair was one of seven career fairs Liberty is scheduled to host this semester. A full career fair schedule is available online.