Students, employers both will benefit from career fair
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Agricultural Career Fair on Oct. 4 will help both employers and students as the number of positions in agricultural fields increases and more students seek jobs and internships.
The career fair will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the ballrooms and lounge exhibit areas of the Purdue Memorial Union. There will be 122 employers attending, up from 105 last year.
"With product lines increasing and baby boomers retiring within the agriculture industry, more jobs and internships are available for students in agricultural fields," said Lori Pence Barber, assistant director of academic programs for the College of Agriculture.
According to a 2010 report by Purdue and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there will be a need for 5 percent more college graduates in agriculture and related sectors through 2015. It says a projected 53,500 qualified graduates in these fields will be available for about 54,400 jobs annually during that period. (A summary of the report is available at https://www.ag.purdue.edu/USDA/employment)
"All majors within the College of Agriculture are well-represented at the career fair, making it a great snapshot of the college," Barber said. "Typically, agricultural businesses dealing with production, food manufacturing and natural resources management make up the majority of employers who attend, but there are also non-agriculture-based companies who seek out our students."
Barber said departments within the college are strongly recommending that students have at least one internship before graduation, resulting in more freshmen and sophomores attending the career fair. Even if students are not looking for a position, she said the career fair provides them with opportunities to network with professionals and to learn about careers in the agriculture industry.
Several companies attending the career fair will offer advice to students about resumes, interviews, networking and other topics during a panel discussion 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in Pfendler Hall Room 241.
For more information about the career fair, including companies attending and last-minute tips, visit https://www.ag.purdue.edu/oap/career/Pages/Student_FallFair.aspx
Writer: Jeanne Gibson, 765-494-8402, jegibson@purdue.edu
Source: Lori Pence Barber, 765-494-8482, lbarber@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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