On October 8, 2024, The College of Communication and Information (CCI) hosted its semesterly career fair. Held at the Florida State University (FSU) Alumni Center, the College welcomed over 21 companies from around the Tallahassee community and over 120 students.
Students who attended had the opportunity to connect with potential employers and recruiters about internships and job opportunities, many of which begin as early as the upcoming spring semester.
“I had a great experience at the CCI career fair. I met some great people and learned about opportunities on and off campus,” said Information Technology student Finn Saunders.
“The career fair was helpful in practicing my pitch and meeting some great companies. I am looking forward to expanding my experience within my communications background,” said Media and Communications senior Jana Polsky.
The companies in attendance included media agencies, information & technology firms, and public relations firms – these included several who have been coming for years such as Sachs Media, Ruvos, Paul Consulting Group, Zimmerman Agency, FSU ITS, and BowStern.
In addition, several employers in attendance were FSU alumni themselves. Proudly marked with garnet FSU pins, these former students offered current students insight into their career paths and experiences.
“This was a full-circle moment. I came to these career fairs as a student, and now being able to work with one of the Tallahassee companies that I’m passionate about is awesome. The career fairs are so fun and it’s great to see new and old faces,” said Aya Saludo, a 2023 ICT graduate who represented Ruvos at the career fair.
“As an alumna, it’s always so great to come back and network with the new generation of students. I always feel confident bringing someone from CCI onto my team because I know that they have the skills and the education to work successfully and be a part of our team,” noted Caroline Benson, a 2019 Public Relations graduate and current Senior Public Relations Strategist at BowStern.
Clifford Stokes, the Director of Information Security at FSU, said, “This was a great event. It was a great opportunity for students to meet with people in the workforce who could provide job opportunities. Being on the other side, I felt like I was able to give good advice towards what employees are looking for in students in their field. It was a great turnout.”
Associate Dean Ebrahim Randeree has organized the Career Fair for the past 16 years. According to him, “Our focus has been local communication and technology companies and state agencies that provide internships and jobs for our students. We have built strong partnerships over the years and many of the recruiters are alumni of the College. Our students typically look outside Florida for opportunities – these local companies all have clients and projects in multiple states – you can stay local and have a national impact.”
Katie Fites, a current Media & Communications senior, expressed, “I feel incredibly lucky CCI provides us with opportunities to network with different companies.” The CCI Career Fair’s ongoing success is a testament to the commitment the College has in offering students invaluable opportunities to launch their careers.