Employer showcases, career expos bring strategic vision to light

When Lee Svete, director of Career and Talent Development, arrived at Radford University in February 2024, he brought with him a wealth of leadership experience in higher ed career services, including stints at Notre Dame, Colgate, St. Lawrence and Wake Forest.

His charge was straightforward: To develop career and talent development opportunities, programs and events that connect employer partners with the university’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Just over seven months into his Highlander tenure, Svete’s already made an impact on the office’s strategic vision and tactical execution, including a series of employer showcases and career expos that attracted record numbers of employers and students.

“We have developed a mission statement for our office that’s based on the concept of ‘career and life readiness,’” he said. “We are focused on helping students prepare for successful careers and rewarding lives by making meaningful connections between their academic curriculum, undergraduate research, co-curricular activities, experiential education and the world of work.”

To achieve this mission, the team developed a detailed strategic plan that calls for enhanced staffing, closer collaboration with faculty and department chairs, stronger partnerships with employers, and better application of technology, digital media, data management and analytics. They have also created several new measures for success in student engagement, including attendance at workshops, events and advising sessions, as well as in employer engagement, including the number of internships available to students and participation in employer events.

This fall, the Career and Talent Development team began to bring this strategic vision to life through an employer showcase event and a career expo.

The Marketing and Management Employer Showcase on Sept. 17 featured a career panel in which 16 employers representing 12 core industries offered students tips for success when attending career fairs, as well as interviewing strategies and advice for applying to jobs. Following the panel discussion, the 200+ students in attendance participated in a Q&A with panelists.

The following afternoon, a Career Expo in Kyle Hall provided first- through fourth-year students across majors with an unparalleled opportunity to network, explore various career avenues and connect with recruiters in a variety of career fields. More than 90 employers from Virginia and other mid-Atlantic states were on hand for the event, representing a diverse array of industries – from education, healthcare, banking, consulting and gaming/entertainment to government, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, social services and nonprofits. More than 720 students attended the expo, mixing and mingling with recruiters who had set up booths and tables in Kyle Hall 340 and along the third-floor concourse and corridor all the way to the dean’s suite.

“I am happy I attended the Fall 2024 Career Expo,” said Zainab Akinsemoyin, who is pursuing a master’s degree in data and information management in the Artis College of Science and Technology. “I like the fact that the event was scheduled at a time that fell outside class period and allowed enough time to meet with potential employers and have meaningful conversations with them. In general, I think the career expo was great, and I look forward to the next one!”

Cora Geller, a management major in the Davis College of Business and Economics, commented favorably on the ability to move from one table to the next, engaging employers in good conversations about the different career or graduate school paths they represented.

“I loved this job fair and have gotten several follow-ups [with employers],” said Olivia Townsend, an undergraduate pursuing a communications degree in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences.

The 140 recruiters representing the participating employers also enjoyed the career expo.

“I am always impressed with the quality and professionalism of Radford career fairs,” said Tiffanie Adair, a police officer with Henrico County Police Division near Austin, Texas. “The staff is always very helpful, and the students come prepared with great questions.”

Shelsi Webb Young, a recruiter at CGI, one of the world’s largest IT and business consulting firms, noted that it “was the best career event I have attended at Radford since I began recruiting for CGI.”

Renee Arellano, assistant director of events at the National Press Club, also appreciated the opportunity to interact with Highlanders. “I had a great experience and loved meeting all the students and faculty,” she said.

While the two events were designed to help students find internship opportunities, apply to graduate programs and interview for full-time positions, the larger goal was to prepare students for successful careers and rewarding lives after they graduate. 

“Through events like these, we intend to build a world-class career center that achieves the kind of outcomes prospective parents and students will notice,” Svete said. “As our graduates build successful careers and lead enriching lives, their achievements will prove that Radford delivers an extraordinary return on investment that pays long-term dividends. Those alumni, in turn, will be more likely to engage in the life of their alma mater and make gifts to support Radford’s future.”