SOCORRO, N.M. – The New Mexico Tech Office for Career Services has been creating new ways for students to prepare for their job search and connect with employers virtually. This spring, they are partnering with Handshake again to manage the Career Fair in a virtual format. The exhibitors will offer excellent opportunities for Tech students to explore jobs, graduate schools and internship options.

Tristine Hayward, Assistant Director of Student Affairs, has lined up private companies, universities, and government agencies to attend the event this spring. The full list of virtual exhibitors is at the bottom of this page. The semi-annual event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, on Handshake.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CAREER FAIR WEBSITE

All students are encouraged to attend and it is never too early to start networking and looking for a job or internship. Students and faculty can look at the companies and sort them by major, employment opportunity, location, and more through their account on Handshake: https://nmt.joinhandshake.com.

“This is a really great time for students that are interested in getting a higher degree as about 1/3 of the attendees are graduate schools this semester,” Hayward said.

“Employers know they can find the best and brightest students at New Mexico Tech,” Hayward said. “Recruiters also are aware of the rankings and accolades that Tech earns, such as the recent rankings released in USA Today, Forbes, Niche, and College Factual.”

Graduate schools know that NMT is the number one public school for students that go on to receive a Ph.D. Students can prepare themselves for the Career Fair in several ways. First, students should register for the fair through their Handshake (https://nmt.joinhandshake.com) account. They should then research the companies in attendance and what their specialties are. Students should make sure that their Handshake profiles are complete and their resumes are up to date.

“This semester there will be no waiting in line to speak with recruiters as all time slots with recruiters will need to be pre-scheduled in advance of the fair,” Hayward said.

Students can start signing up for group sessions and one-on-one time slots with employers of their choice. Students can only attend sessions they registered for. Registration closes when a session begins or reaches capacity.

As travel restrictions ease, there will also be many companies that have informational sessions on Handshake as well as on their own platforms later in the semester. These include the Peace Corps, Sandia National Labs, Honeywell, and Indeed.com.

Even though the fair will be virtual, students should still dress professionally. The Career Closet, in the Office for Student Affairs in the Fidel Center, is available for students on campus who need professional clothing for the fair. The lending closet has men and women’s professional suites, ties, and shoes. Check out is free and this year students can keep the clothes they check out.

Career Services is also hosting workshops to help students prepare for the fair. A résumé writing workshop, interviewing skills workshop, and preparing for the virtual fair workshop were hosted. All the workshops were recorded and the recordings can be found on the Career Services webpage: https://www.nmt.edu/studentaffairs/careerservices/workshops.php.

Students are encouraged to email careerservices@nmt.edu to have their resumes reviewed. A strong resume is a must for career fairs, job applications, and networking opportunities.

“We are here to help students make the transition from student to a career,” Hayward said. “These workshops and the career fairs are important events to help students. I encourage Techies to take advantage of the services we offer because they do work.”

– NMT –