JCPenney Suit Up Fall 2024

The JCPenney Suit Up event happened just in time for the Career Fairs--this event allows students to shop at JCPenney to receive up to 50% off of select professional wear! We are so thankful to JCPenney for partnering with us and providing this great resource to our students.

• Students attended: 253

Cocoa & Cookies Open House

Hot cocoa and delicious cookies awaited students at the Career Center for our Welcome Back Weeks Open House! Snacks, swag, and treats were offered at our winter themed Open House. Students could tour the Career Center, learn how to elevate their time on campus, and meet the Career Center team!

• Students attended: 54

Immersion Trips

We first went to Atlanta in the fall and took 17 students on an all expenses paid trip to network with and learn more about Norfolk Southern, The Coca-Cola Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, and E.W. Scripps.

We also were able to take students on an immersion trip to Aldi's Gulf Coast Regional office, where students were able to learn more about opportunities with Aldi and tour their warehouse.

Programming

Our career advisors host programming workshops and classroom presentations to directly reach out to students and provide another chance to learn more about professional development skills. This academic year, our career advisors hosted 516 workshops and classroom presentations (a 15% increase!), reaching thousands of students.

See what some of our students had to say from their post-workshop survey notes!

"The most valuable thing about today's workshop was the information I learned. I definitely will be using the career center to prep for my future interviews!"

"This is the best workshop I've been to with the Career Center. Even as a junior, I learned so much about how to make my resume the strongest!"

Career Center events for the 2024-2025 academic year. Workshops and classroom presentations are an integral part of making an impact.

Student Engagement and Advocacy

The Career Center has created great programming to focus on student engagement and advocacy topics within the professional development context! These events are sponsored by our amazing Career Champion Partners and are open to all students.

Affinity Networking Mixer

The Affinity Networking Mixer was a vibrant professional development opportunity for students to network with 13 employers spanning various disciplines. This event fostered meaningful connections between 21+ UA student groups and industry leaders, allowing students to experience how companies support equitable practices.

• Students attended: 48

Women in STEM Identity Matters Panel

An inspiring panel featuring five women leaders in STEM. They shared their career journeys and insights into cutting-edge fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to student participants. Representatives included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lockheed Martin, Shipt, Geosyntec, Hexagon.

• Students attended: 42

Women’s Worth Salary Negotiation

As part of the “Identity Matters” Series, an employer-led panel (NASCAR, Michelin, Southern Company & Westervelt) was designed to equip students with the strategies and skills to navigate salary negotiations confidently. The interactive session offered tailored advice to help close pay gaps and empower individuals to advocate for their worth.

• Students attended: 73

Student - Employer Mixers

The Career Center is dedicated to connecting students with employers and getting networking experience! In the 2024-2025 academic year, we hosted 13 mixers with a total of 840 attendees (a 23% increase in attendance)! Our Sport Management Mixer had the largest attendance with over 200 students.

We look forward to hosting even more mixers in the future as they allow for a more casual opportunity for students to network and connect with employers, creating an environment that allows industry professionals to meet students where they are.

Satellite Offices

The Career Center has three satellite offices; one within The Culverhouse College of Business, The College of Engineering, and The College of Communication and Information Sciences. Located within each college’s building, these satellite offices offer students more direct and convenient access to Career Center services.

Culverhouse College of Business

Number of workshops: 16

Number of recruiting events: 57

College of Engineering

Number of workshops: 62

Number of recruiting events: 174

College of Communication & Information Sciences

Number of workshops: 29

Number of recruiting events: 6

Culverhouse College of Business Event Highlights

Career Fair Preview

All Culverhouse students were invited to this come-as-you-are event in the Hewson Hall Atrium to interact with representatives from Nucor, ALDI, Dell, Fisher Investments, and more. This allowed students to be among the first to interact with employers before the fair, which eased nerves and increased confidence.

Networking Dinner

Culverhouse students participated in a networking dinner with recruiters from Geico, Boeing, E&J Gallo, IberiaBank, Carter's and Raymond James. Students selected which company they preferred to join for each portion of the evening, which began with a networking reception followed by a progressive dinner then dessert. Prior dining etiquette training was provided, ensuring students were well-prepared to make a great first impression.

Student Org Reception

53 Culverhouse students attended the Student Org Reception to network with employers like Amazon, 49 Financial, Penske, and Regions the night before the career fair. Held at The University Club, the event provided a fun way to learn about potential companies and jobs. 

Fall 2024 Co-op Tailgate

In keeping with the season, ECDC partnered with six employers on Shelby Quad to celebrate the football season and educate students about UA’s Crimson Co-op Program and Co-op Interview Day, a unique opportunity where students drive their interview opportunities. Students tossed frisbees and chatted with employers in a casual setting while enjoying excellent bar-b-que!

Career Fair Preview: Fall & Spring

Before the Technical and Engineering Career Fair, employers from a wide range of engineering fields gathered to connect with engineering students of all years. This relaxed pre-event offered students a unique opportunity to engage with employers in a familiar setting, dressed in casual attire, boosting their confidence ahead of the Fair. The event was a hit with students, faculty, and employers alike, fostering meaningful connections and leaving students feeling more prepared and ready for the Fair the following day. 

Senior Send-Off

Each semester ECDC celebrates the graduating engineering students with lunch and a photobooth where the graduates can take pictures with signs of their choice. Students choose from signs with the name and/or logo of their employer or graduate school – or simply saying “Roll Tide!”

College of Communication & Information Sciences Event Highlights

Dine & Shine Etiquette Lunch

This come as you are luncheon allowed students to learn more about dining and professional etiquette in a relaxed setting. Students walked through a three-course meal, asked great questions, and left feeling more confident in their professionalism!

Elevator Pitches with The Speaking Studio

This interactive workshop, in partnership with The Speaking Studio, allowed students to craft a memorable elevator pitch and put it to practice with other attendees.

Career Paths with Hearst Television

This intimate networking mixer allowed students to discover exciting internship and career opportunities while gaining insights into the diverse business units at Hearst Television.