As an ambitious computer science major at 麻豆原创,聽Kenny Nguyen 鈥�25聽was already thinking ahead before graduating聽聽鈥� about internships, industry connections and the kind of real-world experience that would launch his career as a cyber analyst for Deloitte & Touche.
Thanks to 鈥檚 dedicated support for STEM students, he had access to resources so he would not have to navigate that journey alone.
鈥淓ngineering is hands-down our most active liaison area,鈥� says Taylor Sandifer 鈥�23MA, assistant director of employer relations in Career Services who supports all STEM majors, including the College of Engineering and Computer Science. 鈥淐ECS students show up to everything. They鈥檙e really engaged, and they take advantage of every opportunity.鈥�
For Knights like Nguyen, that means access to employers through engineering-focused employer-led workshops, resume reviews, mock interviews, and the highly attended , which occurs annually in the fall at the Addition Financial Arena, where as many as 300 employers fill the venue.
Big Companies Recruit Knights
Before Expo, students can聽participate聽in the Career Readiness Program, a two-week series including industry-specific, employer-led sessions where recruiters host one-on-one resume reviews and mock interviews to help students prepare.
麻豆原创鈥檚 employer-relations model attracts major companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Siemens Energy, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and Walmart directly to campus for tabling, information sessions,聽and networking events.
鈥淓mployers coming in to recruit STEM talent will work with us to get connected,鈥� Sandifer says. 鈥淲e help them get into the engineering atrium, set up information sessions, reach students through Handshake, and collaborate with CECS to spread the word.
鈥淲e want students to see a clear path from 麻豆原创 to a career.鈥濃�� Taylor Sandifer 鈥�23MA, assistant director of employer relations in Career Services
鈥淲e want students to see a clear path from 麻豆原创 to a career. When they put in the effort, and we can help make those connections, it all comes together.鈥�
Sandifer has seen firsthand how transformative this can be.
鈥淥ne computer science student (Nguyen) showed up on the wrong day 鈥� in a suit 鈥斅燽ut stayed anyway,鈥澛爏he recalls. 鈥淗e came back the next day, met with recruiters, and we聽connected him with Deloitte & Touche. He ended up getting the job. His hard work and willingness to show up made the difference.鈥�
Real World Ready
Nguyen credits the Dixon Career Development Center in helping him shape his career path.
鈥淚聽wasn鈥檛聽very prepared initially and had no idea where聽to even聽start. It was overwhelming just thinking about it,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 attended an event I found off Handshake and it turned into me getting resume reviews, mock interviews, and attending events that got me to meet employers I was passionate about joining.鈥�
He took advantage of summer appointments, interview strategies,聽and also聽printed business cards to hand out to the company representatives at the聽Internship and聽Career Expo. Those efforts paid off with an opportunity at Deloitte 鈥� a place he was drawn to for its culture and its constant flow of new challenges.
His biggest takeaway from his experience with the Career Center is to be persistent and open to every opportunity.
鈥淵ou never know what conversation you have with someone that could turn into a huge career opportunity,鈥� he says.
罢丑别听 will take place on Tuesday, March 10.
