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Poole College’s Fall Career Fair Brings Opportunities, Advice for Students

The NC State Poole College of Management’s fall 2011 career fair on October 17, 2011, drew in about 85 recruiting companies and just over 860 students. The Supply Chain Resource Cooperative also held a discipline-focused information session that evening for companies recruiting specifically for supply chain positions.

“A lot of campus recruiting and talent acquisition occurs in the fall,” said Brian Newton, director of career development for the NC State Poole College’s Office of Undergraduate Programs. “That makes this event particularly important for both our December and May graduates.”

During a break in the busy day, several of the recruiters offered a few comments about the students they met, and some advice.

“You have good students,” said Joseph Bechtel, Kohl’s district manager for South Carolina. “They were eager, smart, and asked good questions. Many also had internships or other practical experience. That shows they are not just college students, but have some experience outside the classroom,” he said.

The recruiters’ advice was simple: Start the job search early, and don’t be afraid of that line on the application that asks, ‘Willing to Relocate?’” That can be a good thing, said the recruiters, including a few recent Poole College alumni who did just that with their first positions.

Why start the job search early? Because the hiring process can take several months from initial application to job offer, said Darryl Tucker, a recruiter with the IRS.

Submitting a job application is just the starting point. It can take several weeks before the window for accepting applications ends, and several weeks more for applications to be reviewed and those most qualified selected for interviews.

Tucker also commented on the range of academic requirements sought by the IRS. “It’s not just tax returns,” he said. Academic degree requirements vary by position, he said, and not all require an accounting degree. Position requirements may include accounting, auditing, information technology and economics.

Relocating: It’s a Good Thing

About relocating, Tucker said, “everyone wants to be in the southeast, but being willing to relocate enhances your opportunities. When you travel, you learn about different places, people from different backgrounds and you learn about yourself. When you stay in one area, you only know yourself.” Take advantage of the opportunity to travel while young, he said. “You can always come back home.”

Concern over being placed in a community where they might feel uncomfortable is one reason given for the hesitancy to relocate, Bechtel said. What students don’t necessarily understand, he said, is that “we take into account preferences, and take time to get to know the associate, to see where they are willing to work.”

Alyssa Jarvis, a recent Poole College graduate now with Georgia Pacific, concurred. “Relocating – it’s a great opportunity,” she said.

Sarah Puccini, a 2011 graduate now working as a business technology analyst with Deloitte, offers a similar perspective. “Relocating came with the job description. You know it’s going to happen,” she said. Puccini now works in Washington, D.C., where she is part of a cohort of new analysts with the company. “D.C. is a great place for young professionals,” she said.