The PMAC’s basketball court was replaced with a different type of playing field on Tuesday as students aimed to score internships and career connections during the LSU Career Expo.
The LSU Olinde Career Center invited companies and organizations to set up tables and give students a chance to make connections and learn information about a variety of career paths.
Madeline Broussard, a mass communication sophomore, was surprised to learn how versatile her degree is. Every business she spoke to offered a job where her degree would be useful, even businesses that she did not expect to accommodate her.
“It was very interesting to see how my major, mass communications ties into and has a space in every single job we’ve talked to,” Broussard said.
The event was eye-opening for Broussard and other underclassmen like her, who never realized how much they could do in fields outside of their major. Emory Rosamond, a sophomore, spoke to the hospitals at the event and learned that she could use her business major as part of the hospital administration.
Other students found that the experience taught them how to communicate with future employers. Jada Lloyd, an agriculture business freshman, emphasized how opportunities like this are crucial for students who have not had a chance to explore their prospective careers before.
“I think that this is really important because a lot of students don’t come from backgrounds where they are given these opportunities in high school,” Lloyd said. “I feel like this is really worth it for students who have never been in this setting before.”
Similarly, Isaac Humphries, a computer science sophomore, said he has struggled with communicating in professional settings before. Humphries said that speaking with the representatives at the expo helped him feel more prepared for interviews in the future.
A variety of organizations were set up in the PMAC, from engineering firms and gas companies to schools and government agencies. Companies at the expo were geographically diverse, with employers from as far as Texas and Arkansas coming to meet with students willing to relocate.
In a world where it is increasingly difficult to find employment, LSU students are grateful that the university gives them the opportunity to connect with employers.
Dimitirus Allen, a mechanical engineering senior, emphasized how important it is to have connections before graduation.
“Actually going and finding a company is really hard to do after you graduate,” Allen said. “So, it’s good to actually have an event to go see different companies.”
The Career Center also hosts smaller, more targeted fairs throughout the year. The Career Expo is held once a semester and many employers are happy to keep coming back.
“We come every spring and fall. We love LSU we love the students here,” said Olivia Sing, a representative for Eagle Environmental Services. “It’s great to meet the students here and see who could be part of our team.”
