Tech-Connect Fair matches employers with SLU students
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
by: Rene Abadie
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1) JOB SEARCH – Southeastern industrial technology majors Toby Briggs of Pineville, left, and Jacob
Venable of Central meet with a representative of a recruiting specialist of JM Test
Systems, Inc. of Baton Rouge at the university’s annual Tech-Connect Career Fair.
Both are seniors looking for job opportunities.
2) TALKING TECHNOLOGY – Laura Toeller, a recruiter with IBM in Baton Rouge, talks to Shaquille Brown of
Baton Rouge, a Southeastern senior technology student, about positions open at the
company. Nearly 40 area vendors participated in the university’s Tech-Connect Career
Fair.
HAMMOND – IBM and the FBI were among the nearly 40 employers that took part in Southeastern
Louisiana University’s annual Tech-Connect Career Fair to recruit interns and future
employees for a myriad of high-demand positions.
Held on campus Wednesday (March 23), the event attracted more than 300 students,
the majority of whom are taking courses in the Department of Computer Science and
Industrial Technology. In addition to computer science, the department offers degrees
in occupational safety, health and environment; engineering technology with several
concentrations such as energy engineering, construction and mechanical engineering;
and management-oriented industrial technology programs.
“The number of vendors attests to the value area employers place on our graduates
in these fields,” said Lu Yuan, interim head of the department.
Recent Southeastern computer science graduate Ranjan Poudel was at the fair representing
GCR, a Baton Rouge company that provides consulting and technology solutions to businesses
and government in the areas of disaster management, aviation and security and several
other areas.
“We love the opportunity to visit Southeastern. We’re well aware of Southeastern’s
high quality programs and students,” he said. “We just hired four interns and we’re
looking for more.”
According to Yuan, the event’s benefits extend beyond its job placement capacity.
“The fair enables the participating employers to find quality candidates in a
more efficient way through direct interaction with our students,” he said. “It helps
our students, especially graduating seniors, stay prepared and focused in getting
ready for these employment and internship opportunities. In addition, the event provides
an avenue for our faculty to strengthen existing relationships with industry partners
and to build new ones. It’s a win-win-win situation for all involved."
Senior industrial technology student Shaquille Brown of Baton Rouge appreciated
the chance to meet and submit his resume to a large group employers looking to fill
well-paying positions.
“This is an amazing and awesome opportunity the department provides for us,”
said Brown, who will graduate later this year.
