Roundtable offers jobs to
students
By Dave Stephens
Assistant
Campus Editor
Like a lot of people, Heather Jennings plans on
looking for a job during this year's Industrial Roundtable.
But unlike a lot of people, Jennings has already
talked to many of the people she might someday work for.
Jennings, a senior in the Schools of Engineering
and the chairperson for the Purdue Engineering Student Council's Industrial
Roundtable committee, said working to bring companies to the roundtable
has helped get her name out to different corporations.
"Since I'm on the phone with a lot of recruiters,
sometimes they ask me about what I'm majoring in or when I'm graduating,"
said Jennings. "But really, I'm going to be starting from scratch. I'm
in the same boat as everyone else."
The Industrial Roundtable is being held today and
Wednesday in the Purdue Memorial Mall. Three hundred and nine companies
should attend this year's roundtable, which is an annual event hosted
by the engineering student council.
"This year's job fair is slightly smaller, we have
definitely felt the effect of the state of the economy," said Jennings.
"Last year we had about 340 companies."
Dan Young, a junior in the Schools of Engineering
and a member of Purdue Engineering Student Council, said several companies
have canceled their booths, something that didn't happen last year.
He also said this year's roundtable offers students
the opportunity to meet with potential employers after the job fair
is over.
"We did a better job of coordinating things with
(the Center for Career Opportunities)," said Young. "A lot of companies
didn’t set up interviews after the job fair last year, but this
year many will be holding company interviews in Stewart Center and the
Union on Thursday and Friday of this week."
Jennings said it's important for students to be
prepared when talking to company recruiters.
"Basically, you should know a little bit about
each company that you talk to, bring lots of resumes and keep track
of who you have talked to, so that you can get an interview," said Jennings.
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