Published: September 30, 2008 10:50 pm         

More than 200 companies register to attend Rose career fair

TERRE HAUTE — Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has posted a “No Vacancy” sign on its fall career fair after already exceeding the preliminary limit for companies desiring to seek students for full time, internship and co-op employment.

More than 200 companies have registered to attend the Oct. 8 event in the field house area of the Sports and Recreation Center.

“The early indications reveal that it is going to be another active recruiting year for our students, especially those in engineering and science fields,” stated Kevin Hewerdine, director of career services and employer relations.

“Despite what we’re hearing nationally about declining economic and hiring climates, we haven’t seen any drop off in hiring interest yet. In fact, we filled 216 company interview booths [for the fall career fair] with little or no promotion on our part. Interest in getting to meet Rose-Hulman students is still very high.”

The list of companies making reservations for the event include Archer Daniels Midland Co., Boston Scientific, Caterpillar, ConocoPhillips, Cummins Inc., Dow Chemical Co., Duke Energy, Eli Lilly and Co., Frito Lay, General Electric, Halliburton, HNTB Corp., Honda, Honeywell/UOP, Ingersoll Rand, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger Co., Marathon Oil, Microsoft, Milliken & Co., National Instruments, Northrop Grumman, Nucor Steel, ON Semiconductor, Procter & Gamble, Raytheon, Roche Diagnostics, Rockwell Collins, Siemens Energy, Solar Turbines, Sony Digital Audio Disc Corp., Stryker Medical, Texas Instruments, Timken Co., Toyota and Vectren Corp. (The entire list of companies can be found at www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices/FairAttendees)

Most companies are planning to return on Oct. 9 to interview students for positions or set up plant trips later in the 2008-09 job recruitment cycle.

The fall career fair always is the largest of three quarterly events organized by the Office of Career Services and a committee of 100 students. A total of 205 companies attended last year’s fall event. Other career fairs are scheduled on Jan. 28 and April 22.

The Office of Career Services is making it easier for those companies that want to interview Rose-Hulman students without the expense of coming to campus. Technical video conferencing equipment has been added to services that allow students to conduct interviews with national companies or employers in their hometowns.

A mentoring program also is being developed with the Office of Alumni Affairs to allow Rose-Hulman alumni to give career advice, and a listening ear to students wanting helpful information from those that have been through the rigors of a Rose-Hulman education, according to Hewerdine.