While I did not attend the Spring 2009 Career Fair, much of the discussion about this event has left students bewildered and underwhelmed. The COC website reports that the number of employers at this semester’s event was a 15% decrease from only a year ago. The event only brought in 17 new companies but there were many Fortune 500 companies represented there. While past statistics report that the Spring Career Fair has always been less of a draw than the Fall event, many students now really believe in the word “recession.”

The career fairs of the past often took up two entire gymnasiums in the multi-purpose building. However, this year’s fair, according to students, was only in one gymnasium. While the space was tightly packed, it was evident that the number of recruiters had decreased. It seems that even less companies were actually hiring at the fair. Students reported that “hiring freeze” was a phrase heard throughout the event. Also, many companies took applications yet warned students that money for the position they were applying for was not yet guaranteed. I even overheard one student saying that the very internship they held the previous year no longer existed, as companies reported shutting down internship programs. Another note of the fair was the increase in number of alumni attending this semester’s event.
So what is to blame? Student opinion is mostly geared towards the economic woes. With unsteady companies and unsure markets, companies are making changes that directly impact the hiring of new students. Also, the faulty retirement curves have been to blame. Those with plans to retire have worked longer and held onto positions due to the economic climate, which leaves less jobs open. The number of alumni in attendance speaks as well of the economic problems. Many saw jobs they previously held cut and are now looking for new working positions.
It is also of interest to note that many students blame the name change. With less name recognition of the university, the older executives in hiring positions still look towards UMR or even MSM and find neither. Although it is the same school in the same location, just an application with the new name can lead to confusion. Another possible cause to blame has to do with something even longer in the running. Speaking with a former recruiter who would attend the MS&T Career Fair, he stated that his company stopped coming about ten years ago due to the quality of graduates. He said that his company was not seeing graduates of the same quality that were produced decades ago and his company started finding graduates from other locations. Could it be that this effect is more widespread now?
However, a last trend was also noted. While many left the fair dejected and depressed, other students left with multiple offers. However, whether or not these offers will produce jobs is still up for speculation as many still had the “if the money is in the budget” fine print attached. Overall, it seems that this career fair might have produced many small victories for some but an increased loss for most of the students.