On Sept. 5, approximately 1,500 undergraduate students from the Naveen Jindal School of Management navigated a crowded hallway to find specific employers among the more than 50 companies who sent representatives to the annual Undergraduate Internship and Job Expo.
Presented by the Jindal School’s Career Management Center, the event was the culmination of a process that had begun at the beginning of the semester, when students attended a series of preparatory “Tips for the Expo” sessions. In these sessions, CMC staff members discussed how to find events like the expo in Handshake, how to view participating employers and where to get a map of the expo in Davidson Gundy Alumni Center so students would be able to find specific companies. These sessions featured a representative or two from a company participating in the expo and highlighted how to interact with employers, what to bring to a job fair and how to create an elevator pitch. The CMC held walk-in sessions to meet recruiters on Sept. 3-4.
“Professional development extends beyond job fairs and resumes,” said Tom Kim, CMC director, when asked why the Jindal School works so hard to prepare it students. “It is crucial for students to begin early, honing their elevator pitches, networking skills and interview techniques. Statistics show that 60-67% of students who undertake internships receive full-time job offers, underscoring the need for thorough preparation in a highly competitive environment. The Career Management Center is dedicated to equipping our students with the necessary skills, drawing on our extensive corporate experience to navigate the competitive landscape of internships and job placements.”
After the Expo, students discussed how JSOM gave them the resources to succeed at the expo and expressed confidence in their future endeavors.
“The CMC prepared me for exactly what to expect,” said Asara Dhungana, a sophomore accounting major (formerly a healthcare major), who also praised her business communications courses for helping with her résumé.
Braxton Hill, a finance senior, commended Juna Jones-Moore, a career coach in the CMC, for her assistance with his résumé and the tips she provided.
“I was able to meet with more people than I thought I would,” he said. “I scheduled a follow-up with a representative from JP Morgan.”
Cody Van, an accounting junior, utilized numerous CMC resources before attending the expo, including one of the information sessions which “helped a lot.” Van also used a résumé template and CMC LinkedIn tips.
Sophomore Brock Davis also benefitted from various CMC templates. Davis praised his professors for their kindness and helpfulness, especially his business communications faculty.
Jacob Hall, a sophomore working towardhisCPA, was grateful to his business communications courses, particularly one taught by Dr. John Watson, a clinical professor, for giving him the knowledge and confidence needed to converse professionally with employers. He said CMC’s reminder emails regarding the expo helped keep it at the forefront of his mind.
Srinithi Pendyala, a computer information systems junior originally from DallasCollege and Jirapa De Meyer Heepkaew, a global business sophomore originally from Collin College Wylie, met in a JSOM business communications course and remarked on how the class supported their preparations for the Expo.
Employers attending the Expo were complimentary about the event and the Jindal students they met, including Olise Atenaga from Premiere Trailer Leasing attends approximately twenty career fairs a year.
“UTD students are very prepared and that helps tailor our conversations; they communicate well,” he said.
Other industry representatives had equally positive things to say about Jindal School students. Austin Industries representatives complimented JSOM students. Bonnie Chau and Courtney Fuller spoke approvingly of the preparation and professionalism in how JSOM students comported themselves.
“Some students knew exactly what our company was and what they wanted, which made a positive first impression,” said Dominque Gray, accounting controller at Austin Industries.
Jonathan Gilbert, senior campus recruiter at Saville CPAs and Advisors appreciated that JSOM students had researched the company prior to the Expo and were thus able to respect the recruiters’ time at the crowded event.
Jill Morgan-Frost, vice president of talent acquisition at Invitation Homes praised the attending students as good job candidates and was pleased at how easy it was for employers to attend and get set up for the Expo.
“The career fair was excellent,” she said “It was easy to connect to high caliber students that were eager to learn more about our organization and the opportunities we have available.”
Kim said that successful students not only excel academically but also actively engage in professional development.
“This involves attending workshops and employer events throughout the semester,” he said. “Both undergraduate and graduate students should aim to complete two or three internships during their academic career. For alumni, we emphasize the importance of giving back to the institution. The most effective way to do this is by paying it forward — participating in employer events, mentoring current students, and collaborating with recruiters to facilitate recruitment at UT Dallas.”
All these events and actions strengthen the ties between the Jindal School, its students and employers, which kim said is paramount.
“By providing employers with seamless access to our exceptional students for internships and full-time placements, we ensure their frequent presence on campus,” he said. “We treat employers as esteemed guests, offering convenient parking, hot meals during major events, and direct access to the targeted students they seek. This level of service requires significant effort from the JSOM CMC staff, but employers greatly value the ease of collaboration with the business school. If the process were cumbersome, employers would not invest their time on campus. This exceptional treatment and focused recruitment efforts often result in scholarships and donations to the School of Management.”
