CECS Career Fair showcases student talent and industry partnership

Tooba Tanveer is laughing with a recruiter during the CECS Career Fair.

CECS Student Ambassador Tooba Tanveer meets with a recruiter at the CECS Career Fair, Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Photo by Angela Foster.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering and Computer Science students were given time to network right outside their classrooms.

The CECS Career Fair brought 76 companies to the college, with companies hosted on all four floors of the Engineering and Computer Science building.

“The turnout from employers and the enthusiasm of our students speak volumes about the reputation of UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science,” CECS Dean Kumar Yelamarthi said. “Our partners know that when they recruit here, they’re connecting with students who are ready to contribute from day one and to lead in shaping the future of their industries.”

CECS Career Development Coordinator Shelby Dennis organized the college’s most extensive career fair to date, hoping students would be able to expand their professional horizons.

“I want them to see everything, talk to everyone and take the time to explore the career fair—not just to focus on two companies,” Dennis said. “Talk to as many companies as possible that are in your field. Bring enough resumes and dress professionally so that you’re putting your best foot forward and you impress the employer.”

The biannual event—held in the fall and spring—provides students from all disciplines the opportunity to connect with recruiters seeking their skill sets.

“Events like this bring together students, faculty and industry in a profound way,” Yelamarthi said. “They remind us that progress doesn’t happen in isolation; it grows through connection, shared purpose and the relationships that begin right here on our campus.”

For CECS student ambassadors Tim McDaniel and Tooba Tanveer, it was a day to share knowledge and lessons with students who might have attended the fair for the first time.

McDaniel, a sophomore mechanical engineering student, attended his first career fair in fall 2024. A transfer student from Chicago, his first time attending was an educational experience.

“As an out-of-state transfer student holding very little knowledge of the area, it was extremely beneficial to me to see what kind of companies, corporations and opportunities there were for me,” he explained. “It is also really beneficial to practice introducing myself to the recruiters without the stress of being in a corporate interview room. It’s a great way to get a face value view of their work environment.”

Tanveer, a double major in electrical and mechanical engineering and an Innovations in Honors student in the UTC Honors College, echoed McDaniels’ thoughts on the atmosphere.

“I’m always scared of interviews and everything, so this is a good start where you’re just speed dating with everyone and telling them something about you,” she said. “If you’re not looking for any opportunities, it helps you with your verbal communication a lot and with your interview skills and your communication.”

For sophomore Ben White, majoring in computer science with a focus on data science, it was his first time attending.

“This is a gold mine, honestly,” White said. “If you have the opportunity to come to a career fair, this is your best chance at getting a future career started.”

A gold mine is what Joel Leigh, a chemical engineering major with a minor in chemistry, returned to college to find.

The Chattanooga native knows he will likely work in the plastics industry after graduation, but saw every booth as an opportunity to learn.

Joel Leigh is holding a cup and a bag, listening to a recruiter.

Chemical engineering major Joel Leigh

“There are a lot of internships that are available,” Leigh said. “It’s more about keeping an open mind. Don’t be static to what your major is and listen to what other people have to say.”

Sophomore Autumn Reagan, a mechatronics engineering technology major, said that it helps students get out of their comfort zone.

“Going to the career fair is helpful,” Reagan said. “When you’re in a STEM field, you might feel a little bit more introverted. This is good practice to get out of your comfort zone.”

Some students turned to faculty for advice.

Carson Schunk, an engineering management major, leaned on his professors for companies that may interest him.

“It’s nice to have all the options,” Schunk said. “Especially since I talked to professors before the fair and they gave me recommendations, companies they knew and people they worked with. It’s nice to have the guidance to know and focus on who I should talk to.”

Sophomore Ben Stetson, a civil engineering major with an environmental focus, used the fair as an opportunity to learn more about potential career paths.

“I’d like to do something environmental but I’m not sure yet,” Stetson said. “That’s part of what I’m doing talking to people, getting an idea of what they’re doing out in the field, and what I could maybe be doing.”

Dennis hopes students took advantage of the day.

“It’s special because employers not only like to coordinate with students, but they also like to talk to faculty and engage about the curriculum, finding out what the students are learning,” Dennis said. “They like to engage with each other so that the industry gets to talk to industry.

“You’re bringing everyone together in one big melting pot; they all get to communicate and see what each other is actively working on. It’s an opportunity to bring the community together.”