Career Services at the University of Memphis hosted its bi-annual Career and Internship Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in the University Center Ballroom.
The department’s goal is to provide guiding assistance to U of M students and alumni who are seeking jobs and internships.
More than 86 companies were in attendance, some local to the University District and city of Memphis, as well as major corporations. Each company paid an entry fee of $350 or more to be present.
Verizon, Target, Aflac, and Kroger were among the big corporations at the Expo. FedEx, AutoZone, and the Collierville Police Department came from within the city of Memphis limits.
The event was free to all undergraduate and graduate U of M students, and alumni were encouraged to attend.
“This (event) was critical, and helped me in the right direction towards a job,”
Dennis Jinks, an MBA student, said.
Rahiem Laurore, a junior biology major said, “This is a very great event. Great people, a lot of opportunities for students to gain internships and jobs while in college.”
Tammy Haley, an employer and recruiting specialist for Career Services, said, “We had a record number of students and employers attend this event, and it’s great to see how much the community wants to give back by hiring some of their own local talent.”
Even representatives from some of the companies were impressed by the event and the turnout.
“This is my third time coming to this event, and it’s the best turnout I’ve ever seen,”
John McArthur, college unit director from Raymond James and a U of M alumnus, said. “The university is doing a lot better job informing students about the event.”
Students and alumni were expected to come to the Expo dressed professionally, to bring extra copies of their resumes, and to be prepared as if they were going to a real job interview.
Nearly a few hundred students came and went hoping to make an impression on a future employer to further their careers.
This Expo is just one of the many things that link the U of M to the U-District, and without one another the area could not be as successful.