Florida State University is launching an expanded Seminole Futures Recruitment Series, offering students a week of career exploration and employer engagement from Wednesday, Sept. 24, through Thursday, Oct. 2. The event is open to all majors and class levels.
The FSU Career Center, part of the Division of Student Affairs, has redesigned Seminole Futures into a series of guided and interactive events aimed at supporting students in their professional development. Rob Liddell, assistant vice president for FSU’s Career Services, said: “Our top priority is accelerating student success. To achieve this, the FSU Career Center has engaged partners, both on campus and from our valued employer network, to deliver a truly unique set of experiences. We want to ensure we meet the expectations, goals and interests of our students while rewarding the confidence of our employer partners. The redesigned Seminole Futures series will continue to position FSU as the premier source of talent for their recruitment needs.”
Students participating in career fair networking are likely to receive more job offers than those who do not attend such events; research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers indicates a 20% increase in job offers for these students.
The new format includes various opportunities such as keynote talks with alumni professionals, résumé critiques, networking labs, industry-specific fairs and recognition events. Among these is “Power Players: Real Talk,” featuring Tim Stutz—FSU alumnus and Chief Operating Officer at Insight Global—who will discuss overcoming challenges in early careers. Stutz said: “I can still vividly remember that scary feeling that the ‘real world’ is looming. I want to reassure as many students as possible that it’s not scary at all. It’s all about your commitment and confidence that will set you up for success.”
Another highlight is the Seminole Futures Job & Internship Fair on Oct. 1 at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center where over 115 employers—including Champion Partners like Danfoss Turbocor and Enterprise Mobility—will offer information about internships and full-time positions across different industries.
Christy Mantzanas, employer relations program director at the FSU Career Center, emphasized strategic preparation for entering the workforce: “By participating in the Career Center’s preparation events, students significantly improve their chances of accessing the ‘hidden job market.’” She added: “We’ve tailored programming to student interests and with direct access to more than 300 employer representatives at Seminole Futures, our students will not only gain confidence, but they will also be well positioned to cultivate a fruitful professional network to excel in the job market.” According to CNBC data cited by Mantzanas nearly 70 percent of jobs are never publicly posted.
FSU was recently ranked No. 13 among public schools nationwide—and first among Florida public institutions—for internship opportunities by The Princeton Review.
Throughout the weeklong series there are additional targeted events including engineering-focused fairs at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering; scholarship recognition receptions hosted by Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship; regional job fairs at FSU Panama City Campus; as well as interview sessions coordinated through Dunlap Success Center.
The FSU Career Center continues providing resources such as one-on-one advising sessions résumé workshops mock interviews assistance with internship searches and major exploration tools aiming to help students develop skills necessary for academic achievement and professional advancement.
