Community businesses, organizations court Scots at annual MC Career and Internship Fair
Nov. 7, 2023
More than 400 Maryville College students turned out to the Clayton Center for the Arts last week looking for their futures, and the assembled companies and organizations taking part in the annual Career and Internship Fair were happy to give them a glimpse of the possibilities.
Representatives from more than three dozen businesses were on hand to court the Scots who attended the annual event, which is designed to allow pending graduates to explore various paths that await them upon graduation, as well as current Scots to explore internships available during their time as undergraduates.
“Many of the representatives praised our students’ professionalism, preparedness and the questions that they asked,” said Dr. Niklas Trzaskowski, director of the Maryville College Career Center, which organized the Nov. 2 fair. “Additionally, many of them were very impressed with the student turnout. In addition to gaining subject-specific knowledge, students strengthen their communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills throughout their time at Maryville College. These skills alone could allow students to find a career in countless fields and employers often tell me that they are looking for people with these specific skills.”
In addition to regular Career Fair attendees like 21st Mortgage, Blackberry Farm and Clayton Homes, other organizations on hand last week included Blount Partnership, Cirrus Aircraft, Covenant Health, the Peace Corps, Pilot Company, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, the U.S. Secret Service, Westgate Resorts and many more.
For Alan Brandt, a staff recruiter and talent attraction specialist with Youth Villages — a nonprofit dedicated to helping emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families — the healthy turnout was complemented by the number of students whose majors aligned with the needs of his organization.
“Not only were there a lot of students visiting the fair, but there were a lot of students attending the fair in programs relevant to the positions that I am looking to fill,” Brandt said. “Maryville College students are some of the most professional and best-prepared students that I have encountered amongst the many schools that I visit in East Tennessee.”
According to Trzaskowski, that preparation stems from the two-fold combination of a liberal arts education, and the efforts of the Career Center to link students with potential employers who can take advantage of both their specific fields of study and the ways in which he and his staff help them engage with the corporate world that awaits them after commencement.
“We place a high value on bringing a variety of organizations to campus to introduce students to opportunities,” he said. “Throughout the rest of the academic year, students can expect to meet representatives from several companies and graduate programs at tabling events and during meet-and-greet information sessions.
“We are also finalizing details for our networking event near the end of the spring semester. This event offers students another way to interact with representatives from different industries and to learn about opportunities. We also look forward to supporting the career education students receive in the classroom by visiting a variety of classrooms throughout the remainder of the academic year.”
Brandt wasn’t the only Career Fair attendee who found potential future employees at the event: Courtney Kendrick, a talent acquisition specialist with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, had high praise for both the organization of the event and the caliber of students who attended.
“We interacted with students of all levels and a wide variety of majors,” she said. “All students were professional and eager to interact with employers. They asked detailed questions about growth opportunities, requirements for the position, and benefits for the company. The students also asked about future internship opportunities.”
“I received everything from the usual what do we do, who are we looking for, and do we offer internships, to questions about our benefits, our collaboration, and details about our services and how we provide them,” Brandt added. “I always enjoy visiting Maryville College. Not only are the students polite and professional, but the Career Center staff is always welcoming and extremely helpful!”
It’s a collaborative effort, Trzaskowski added, and while he and his team — Leah Hadder, career and internship coach; and Alaina Tipton, office and marketing manager — may be responsible for putting on the Career Fair and other career-centric events, they don’t do so in a vacuum.
“I am beyond grateful for the support of our faculty, staff and administration,” Trzaskowski said. “While the Career Center organizes the fairs, we understand that we are not able to do it alone. Additionally, we are thankful for the organizations who participated in the fair and look forward to, hopefully, seeing them on campus again soon.”
