Intern offers surge at Texas A&M career fair
By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 3/1/1999
COLLEGE STATION, TEX.--How big of an issue is finding employees becoming in distribution? Sixty-five companies recruited fresh talent during a recent career fair at Texas A&M University that involved more than 425 ID students.Sponsored by Texas A&M's Professional Assn. for Industrial Distribution, February's fair attracted 30 first-time distributors and manufacturers. Recruiting activity has more than tripled since the first event was held in 1995.
School officials said more firms offered internships this year, apparently to introduce future graduates to the field.
"A lot of companies and industries are really trying to align themselves and get in with freshmen and sophomores," says Robert Goldberg, a senior who expects to graduate this spring. "I think companies need to understand that we're their front line for fresh people and fresh ideas coming into industrial distribution."
Recruiting firms included large distributors like W.W. Grainger, Inc., manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation and consulting firms like Price Waterhouse. Last year 66 companies attended the event. About 20 firms dropped out this year. Some indicated they were cutting back expenses because of business conditions.
A growing number of consultants appear to be seeking students for their technical skills in information systems, warehouse management and logistics, says Erin Evans, a senior fair officer. "There's a lot of big names coming in," she said. "It makes us look good that those coming in are not necessarily those [firms] that normally recruit" here.
In another sign of the tight employment market, job offers for Texas A&M distribution program graduates soared by seven percent between the spring and fall of 1998. By last fall, offers climbed to an average $42,000, says Dan Jennings, the ID program department head. The range of offers reported by students last year was $28,000 to $52,500.
"The point is there are skills and they are valued," says Jennings. "With market conditions, finding and attracting students into the program is not the problem."
Evans said one student reported a signing bonus offer of $3,200 for a grade point average of 3.2, while Jennings said another graduate was offered a $12,000 signing bonus.
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