As supply chain management becomes more critical to companies, Rutgers Business School sees escalating interest from companies and students in annual career fair
In five years, a small meet and greet has morphed into a giant career exposition
EDISON, N.J., Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Rutgers Business School Supply Chain Management Career Exposition attracted 85 companies and more than 800 students from campuses in Newark and New Brunswick, reflecting the soaring interest in the field and demand for supply chain talent among companies.
The event, which began on the Livingston Campus in 2010 with 12 companies and approximately 30 students, combined the undergraduate and graduate supply chain management programs on two campuses for the first time at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center on Sept. 16.
Buses departed from both campuses every 30 minutes, shuttling well-dressed and well-prepared students to the convention center. The students were provided with lists of companies and floor plans of the exposition center, allowing them to navigate the sprawling center and meet with their choice of company representatives.
Anthony Bruno of Mondelēz International was among the representatives who came to the expo hoping to identify prospective recruits.
"Mondelēz International has been at every meet and greet, and we hosted the Newark event last year," Bruno said. "Rutgers Business School students are so professional, so prepared."
Marisa DiFabio of Johnstone Supply also praised students from Rutgers Business School. "Rutgers is ranked very well nationally, and the Rutgers brand speaks for itself," she said. "The students show such commitment and enthusiasm for landing meaningful careers."
International first-year MBA students Akeem Abdul and Anupriti Warade attended mostly for the experience of meeting with company recruiters. "I spoke with many companies that were very helpful and encouraging, especially considering that we just started the program," Warade said.
Supply Chain Management majors Olena Mishchenko and Allison Meyer are both juniors looking for internships. For them, the expo was a chance to explore opportunities for work experience during the summer, to hone their pitches and to network with recruiters as well as fellow students.
"This expo is great because it is geared just towards supply chain management, and if you're a double-major, it is also great because there are other opportunities there," Meyer said.
While Meyer was interested in speaking with Mars, Mishchenko's goal was to make a connection with someone at L'Oréal.
Both students succeeded in spending time speaking with representatives from their first-choice of companies and then they met with representatives from many other companies, some of which they had never considered before.
"You always want to build your network," Mishchenko said. "I can't tell you how many interesting people I've met."
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Program Director Eugene Spiegle said the transformation of the meet and greet into a major career fair reflects the significance of supply chain management in corporations around the world.
"Companies large and small recognize that supply chain management provides efficiency, quality, cost benefits, use of significant manufacturing techniques and systems, and promotes flatter organization structures and better communication," Spiegle said.
"Career fairs and degree programs in supply chain management are growing to meet the demand for skilled managers," Spiegle said. "Last year there were more than 200,000 jobs in supply chain management that were not filled."
For more information, go to www.business.rutgers.edu.
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SOURCE Rutgers Business School
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