Opportunities flourish at College of Business career fair

The career quest is on, and both sides are looking for the same thing: a good fit. Students want that just-right internship or a full-time job that will get them in the door. Companies are looking for that go-getter with the right experience.

That’s where the College of Business’ Career Management Services comes in. The team recently put together the second annual College of Business Job & Internship Expo, which drew 43 companies, among them Yelp, the 11^th Judicial Court, Meltwater News, Chrysler and Johnson & Johnson.

A total of 291 students participated in the March 5 event held at FIU Football Stadium.

Daria Colvett, director Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care Information & Communication Technology at FCA US LLC (formerly Chrysler Group), hoped to fill several full-time information communications and technology positions in Michigan.

“The programs offered at FIU have the right focus for our IT positions,” said Colvett. “International business is an important area for us and now that we’re integrating many global operations, we’re looking for schools focused in that area.”

The College of Business career fair is designed to help students prepare for the transition into the working world and to provide employers with access to candidates with a broad range of degrees and experience levels.

“I always tell students: when you apply for graduation and you’re approved, nobody hands you a job,” said Sara Lipman, executive director of operations and strategic initiatives at the College of Business. “You have to do a lot of things to move from student to professional.”

At this year’s fair, the Yelp booth drew a steady stream of students. Looking for an internship, David Bell was one of its first visitors. The mobile app’s recruiters were looking to fill internship positions open in New York, Chicago and Phoenix. By the time Bell finished his conversation with the Yelp team, one of the internship positions was his.

“They’re offering more sales development, but that might be a way to get in the door, do well and then transfer,” said Bell, a marketing major who will graduate in April 2016. “If you look into the company you see all the things you can do once you’re inside.”

Public relations software company Meltwater News made its debut at the 2015 College of Business career fair. The company services marketing and communications firms with press release distribution, online media analysis and news distribution.

Their goal: recruit students for international management positions. The company currently has 52 offices in 27 countries, explained Thomas Smeallie, managing director of Meltwater. In Miami, they’re looking to fill positions in management and business development.

“Everyone we’ve seen seems interested,” said Smeallie. He pointed out that the College of Business event was a must-do. Meltwater’s area director for Latin America, Luis Carranza, is an FIU alumnus and indicated the university is fertile ground for recruiting.

The College of Business career fair debuted in 2014 and is held every year in the spring semester. Last year’s event drew 33 companies and this year the number grew to 43, with some remaining on a waiting list due to space constraints. Lipman explained that plans are already underway to move the 2016 College of Business career fair to a larger space.

“What we’ve heard from the participating companies is that they were impressed with the quality of the students,” said Lipman, noting that the event gives business students heightened exposure. “They were conducting interviews on-site and some of the students looking for internships got them on the spot.”