ISU engineering, business and liberal arts career fairs will go on under tents next week

AMES, Iowa - While the August flooding may have left organizers without their normal campus facilities to use -- namely Hilton Coliseum and the Scheman Building -- next Tuesday's Engineering Career Fair and Wednesday's Business and Liberal Arts and Sciences Career Fair will go on as planned at Iowa State University. Large, air-conditioned tents with walls and floors will be erected to hold the events in the courtyard on the south side of Scheman from noon to 6 p.m. each day.

The temporary facilities will accommodate more than 210 companies scheduled to participate in the Engineering Career Fair, and approximately 120 more at the Business and Liberal Arts and Sciences Career Fair -- in addition to thousands of ISU students each day.

While no other Iowa State buildings were either available or had enough space to hold the career fairs, officials at all three colleges were committed to ensuring that the show would go on for these events.

"This is such an essential event that we never questioned whether to hold it this year, even considering the extensive flood damage," said Jonathan Wickert, dean of ISU's College of Engineering. "We just did what engineers do -- we adapted to constraints and found a solution. Our staff worked hard to overcome extraordinary obstacles, and in the process we considered a full range of options. In the end, we engineered a solution that will provide business executives from around the nation, and thousands of students from our campus, with a professional environment -- whatever the weather may bring that day."

"These tents have walls, floors, entrance doors, and of course a roof, and once set up, are similar to being in a large room," said Danny Johnson, interim associate dean of undergraduate programs in the College of Business. "Hence, the environment for the career fairs should be as comfortable as if it were held in Hilton Coliseum and Scheman. In fact, it might be considered the most 'in-tent-sive' career fair ever."

ISU career officials emphasize that the fairs are still one of the best ways for students to get some initial face time with potential employers. Kathy Wieland, director of Business Career Services, says connecting students face-to-face with employers is among the most important things she and her career service colleagues do -- making this year's temporary facilities well worth the added time and effort.

The career fairs always draw representatives from hundreds of businesses to meet with thousands of students. Photo provided by the College of Engineering

She doesn't anticipate participants will see any major changes, except for the location.

"Our career fairs have always been trade-show quality events for both our students and our employers, and this fair will be no different," Wieland said. "Only the venue has changed."

And Wieland agrees that the venue change may generate even greater buzz among students, particularly once the tents are erected.

"Certainly there's always curiosity with any change, and if that brings extra attention or attendees, all the better," she said. "That said, from a student standpoint the venue itself is secondary to having an opportunity to connect with outside firms."

Additional information on career services at Iowa State, including complete career fair schedules, is available at: http://www.career.iastate.edu/.