Tech Topics - Spring 2008 - (Page 51)

RealWorld Tech Job Hunters Fare Well STANLEY LEARY Alumni attending Career Fair ‘already have foot in the door’ By John Dunn J ack Pollock has been a recruiter at every Georgia Tech Alumni Career Fair for nearly 20 years — and the draw that keeps him coming back is the caliber of alumni looking for jobs. Pollock, manager for recruiting and staffing at EG&G, a provider of management and technical services to the government, started recruiting at alumni career events in the late 1980s. “Over the years, we followed Tech’s alumni fair from Buckhead to the Cobb Galleria Centre, which in our opinion provides the best accommodations for all concerned,” Pollock said, adding it is “always” a good experience. Pollock said EG&G will be at the Alumni Career Fair when it observes its 25th anniversary on March 11 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. “We attempt to hire one or more engineers from each career fair,” Pollock said. “Our work is extraordinarily interesting with a long-term contract, quality benefits and an exciting city, Las Vegas, to reside in — a very desirable set of lifestyle factors.” Pollock said Tech “absolutely” produces outstanding job candidates. “Excellent education with course work in the electrical engineering program that suits our technical requirements combined with the work experience most alumni bring is a talented pool to recruit from.” Pollock said the company has numerous success stories about recruiting Tech alumni. “We currently have six Georgia Tech graduates employed at our local government facility possessing 11 Georgia Tech degrees,” he said. “The chief engineer of one of our most advanced classified projects is a Georgia Tech alumnus and a previous range chief engineer, now with a sister company, is another success story.” The annual Career Fair attracts nearly 1,000 alumni and more than 100 companies will be represented this year, said Caroline Taylor, director of Alumni Career Services and Networking. “Alumni who attend our Career Fair already have their foot in the Caroline Taylor, the Alumni Association’s director of Career Services and Networking, prepares for the 25th annual Career Fair. Schedule of Events Tuesday, March 11 Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway • 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Career Fair check-in, registration • 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. — Lunch workshop, Meade Sutterfield, EE 72, chair of the Alumni Association, “Seizing Opportunities: The What, When and How of Advancing Your Career,” tickets $10, sponsored by Liberty Mutual • 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Career Fair • 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Networking reception, sponsored by Microsoft Note: The Career Fair ends at 6:30 p.m. Alumni who arrive after 6 p.m. will not be admitted. Walk-up registration will be available. Deadline to preregister is 8 a.m. March 4. Pregistration is required for the lunch workshop and networking reception. Words of Advice: Please Be Prepared Even though Alumni Career Fair attendees will enter an arena where employers are looking to hire Georgia Tech alumni, the competition could be tough. You’ll be going up against the best — other Tech alumni. Caroline Taylor, director of Career Services and Networking, has advice for job candidates. Be prepared. “Alumni should review and update their resumes,” Taylor said. “Be sure that your resume represents you well and serves as a good marketing tool in your job search. “Resumes should be accomplishment driven and reflect why you would be a valuable addition to the company,” she added. Alumni should be prepared to give the elevator speech, she said. “Give some thought about communicating your interests and accomplishments in a concise manner to company representatives at the fair,” Taylor said. “Just being prepared will relieve the jitters that many people experience when approaching a prospective employer,” she added. GT door,” Taylor said. “Companies attending our Career Fair are interested in hiring Georgia Tech alumni. Many employers send Tech alumni as their company representatives.” C. Meade Sutterfield, EE 72, chair of the Alumni Association, will be the luncheon workshop speaker. Sutterfield, a private equity investor who also advises venture capital firms, will speak on “Seizing Opportunities — The What, When and How of Advancing Your Career.” This year’s fair is on a Tuesday afternoon and evening, which Taylor TECHTOPICS said makes attending more feasible for a larger number of alumni. “The afternoon and early evening format followed by an evening networking reception will appeal to those people who are currently working or curious about different professional opportunities,” she said. The networking reception will give alumni the chance to interact with company representatives and other alumni, Taylor said. “Job leads and other opportunities could result from conversations with employers or discussions with fellow alumni.” | SPRING 2008 51

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Tech Topics - Spring 2008 Contents Mail Call Gold & White Honors Alumni House Sweet Spring Centennial Buzz Supreme Court Victory The Hill ‘Treasure Trove’ of Stories Living History Forget-me-not Fashion Student Life Investing in Graduates Giving Back Training the Next Generation Burdell & Friends Ingredients for Success Yellow Jackets Hockey Club Ices Georgia Tech Job Hunters Fare Well Real World

Tech Topics - Spring 2008

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