Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering recently hosted a career fair featuring 44 employers from fields ranging from aeronautics and aerospace to engineering, military and more.
Sponsored by the United States Air Force, the event aimed to connect students to alumni and top organizations within these sectors.
Michaela Murdocco, corporate recruiter at Flexjet, was eager to share the unique field of private jets with the students.
“We are looking into entry-level roles local to Cleveland,” Murdocco said. “It's always great to open students' eyes to another industry like fractional jet ownership.”
Emily Perrine, who graduated from Kent State in 2018 with an applied engineering degree, was eager to return to campus and share more about her role as a product engineer at Luxium, a material engineering company specializing in synthetic sapphires, x-ray crystals and substrates.
“It is really nice to be back,” Perrine said. “This is my first time being in the new building, and I was excited to see the changes.”
During her time at Kent State, Perrine was heavily involved in student organizations and believes that her experience helped her launch her career.
“My best advice for students is to get involved,” Perrine said. “I was in the high-power rocket club and the American Foundry Society, and it really helped connect me to the professional world.”
Senior computer engineering technology major Gustavo Gasperin was also looking to form connections.
“I’ve attended these career fairs in the past, and I feel like my classes have prepared me to confidently approach these opportunities to meet new people and advance my career,” Gasperin said.
College of Aeronautics and Engineering Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Maureen McFarland, Ph.D., is excited that students like Gasperin are using these events to form connections.
“A lot of our students' internships turn into jobs,” McFarland said. “This is one way that they can begin to form these relationships and gain access to opportunities.”
The college also prioritizes collaborating with Career Exploration and Development to provide a seamless experience for students.
“We are really trying to use their existing resources like Handshake and add to it to create a specialized experience for our students’ professional development,” McFarland said.
The college’s Career Services Coordinator Steven Nowinski said he felt a similar way about the commitment to students in the program.
“We really want to see a return on investment for students and employers,” Nowinski said. “We want to create niche career fairs where students can get to know professionals directly. A lot of the companies that attended today approached us, so we are feeling incredibly lucky and grateful for that.”
This spring career fair allowed students and alumni to explore diverse career pathways, engage with industry leaders and forge connections, launching their careers to new heights.
Learn more about the College of Aeronautics and Engineering Events.