Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 5, 2002 Indiana businesses invited to high-tech recruiting fairWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program (TAP) will play matchmaker between students and Indiana business once again Oct. 29 at the High-Tech Job Fair for Indiana Companies. "It's no secret that it's not the best of times for high-tech employment," said TAP director Dave McKinnis. "But employers, large and small, who come to West Lafayette will find aggressive, motivated students not only from the main Purdue campus but also regional campuses."
Established in 1986, TAP's mission has been to help business, industry and government use new technologies to benefit the citizens of Indiana. For four years, TAP has had a new dimension to its mission – introducing young engineers, technologists, scientists and management and liberal arts graduates to high-tech companies in Indiana in hopes they will stay in the state after graduation.
"This is the only job recruitment event at Purdue limited to Indiana employers," McKinnis said. "We put on our event at cost ($150 per company), and it gives employers the opportunity to meet lots of students who are not only a direct fit for companies but also students who want to stay in Indiana." The fair, sponsored by the Purdue schools of agriculture, engineering, management, science, technology, and Purdue's Center for Career Opportunities, is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all Purdue campuses. It will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. Company representatives may screen candidates during the fair, then interview selected students from 4-8 p.m. Employers also can interview students for full-time jobs and for summer 2003 internships on Oct. 30 at the Stewart Center, adjacent to the union building. Participation in the fair will be limited to the first 100 companies that register by phone at (765) 494-6258, by e-mail to hightech@purdue.edu or through the Web site at https://Engineering.Purdue.edu/TAP/JobFair/20021029/people/join_form. The job fair will include an information session on salary data and recruiting tips for high-tech businesses from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Historically, companies from Indianapolis and Lafayette have had a dominating presence at the high-tech job fair. McKinnis wants to reach out to employers throughout the state, especially in Fort Wayne and northern Indiana. Large companies, such as Eli Lilly and Co., which sends representatives each year, have obvious high-tech needs, but McKinnis says, "almost every business today has a need for high-technology workers. This is true for small companies, too. Last year, a three-person Indianapolis software company, InfoDynamics Inc., hired two students – a computer technology graduate and a Krannert School of Management graduate." McKinnis says companies represented should include computer software, e-commerce, computer consulting, manufacturing, government, insurance, healthcare and accounting firms. TAP's first four high-tech job fairs attracted more than 1,200 students each time, and almost every company had a line of students to talk with during the five-hour events. Last year, attendance was down due to the economy, but McKinnis says businesses can get a leg up on the economic upturn by recruiting employees and interns early. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Publication-quality photographs of Summer King and Brad Stayte, who were hired at last year's Hi-Tech Job Fair by InfoDynamics Inc., a small Indianapolis software company, is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/king.jobfair.jpeg and ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/stayte.jobfair.jpeg. Writer: Mike Lillich, (765) 494-2077; mlillich@purdue.edu Source: Dave McKinnis, (765) 494-6258; mckinnis@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTION: Purdue graduates Summer King and Brad Stayte were hired at last year's High-Tech Job Fair by InfoDynamics Inc., a small Indianapolis software company. King was a management major, and Stayte is a computer technology graduate. (Purdue University photos) Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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