More than 230 employers, a record for the Spring Career Fair, visited campus, offering approximately 2,500 jobs and internships to Penn College students. The employers included 17 Fortune 500 companies.
“In my 10 years of managing the Career Fair, the message from employers hasn’t changed. They need graduates with real-world technical skills,” said Erin S. Shultz, coordinator of career development. “Even when the economy dips, our students remain in demand, as we offer recession-proof technology majors. With the current favorable job market, I wasn’t surprised that we had such a high number of employers on campus.”
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2017 survey, employers plan on hiring 5.8 percent more new graduates than last year for U.S. operations. Over half of surveyed employers rated the job market as “good,” and nearly 30 percent assigned it a “very good” rating.Shultz said construction management, welding, manufacturing, plastics, heavy construction equipment technology, diesel technology and building automation majors were most in demand at the Career Fair. Approximately 1,200 students attended the event.
Schneider Electric, a global energy management and automation corporation, recruited building automation and information technology students at the Career Fair. The company already employs several Penn College graduates.
“We keep coming back because of the quality of students we get,” said Kevin Nealy, service project manager. “The Penn College students come in, they’re aggressive and they’re fast learners. It’s a great program here.”
Larson Design Group, a national architecture, engineering and survey firm based in Williamsport, employs approximately 90 Penn College alumni and hopes to add more.
“The college offers great technical programs,” said Alyssa Rogers, human resources generalist. “With the different programs you offer here, the kids are coming out with great hands-on experience and are able to jump in with little hands-on training. They have a good work ethic. The kids are very impressive; that’s why we continue to come back.”
Randy McCarty, foundation director and director of recruitment for Clark Associates Inc., attended his first Penn College Career Fair. He was recruiting a variety of majors for the Lancaster company devoted to the commercial food service industry.
“The kids who have stopped by have been well-prepared to talk with us. They seem to know where they want to go, what their interests are,” he said. “At other fairs, we have a lot of kids who don’t know what they want to do. Most of them here seem to be pretty much on target. I was really pleased with the students we talked to.”
“It’s gratifying to continually hear from employers how impressed they are with our students’ educational background and professionalism,” Shultz said. “We have high expectations of the students, and if the response from employers is an accurate indication, those expectations are being met.”
As a national leader in applied technology education, Penn College offers more than 100 bachelor’s, associate and certificate majors. For more, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
– Photos by Grace F. Clark, student photographer
Recruiters for Goodhart Sons Inc., including Kyle W. Scheid, a 2013 Penn College alumnus in computer aided drafting technology and computer aided product design, greet prospects in the gymnasium.
D.R. Horton Inc.'s Kenzie Ungar staffs the Texas-based homebuilder's table.
The Field House provides display space for nearly 90 Career Fair employers.
Benjamin T. Trone, a 2016 graduate in building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration, returns to campus on behalf of CORE Design Group.
With six Penn College degrees between them (most recently in building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration last year), alumni Justin D. Iman (left) and Steven J. Kanaley interacted with potential co-workers for RAL Architecture + Design Inc.
Johnathan T. Capps (right), an applied technology major from North Wales – who already holds an associate degree in mechatronics engineering technology – talks with Jeff B. Weaver, associate professor of electronics, near the Construction Specialties Inc. booth.
Reading Bakery Systems Inc. collected resumes from students in manufacturing-related majors.