Students see manufacturing companies as an option
The first Manufacturing ENC Career Fair at East Carolina University was aimed at matching employers with students for internships or jobs, and at the same time, showing students that there is more to working in manufacturing than being on the production line.
“Helping students learn about career pathways within manufacturing, including opportunities in business, supply chain, information systems, engineering and technology,” said Melissa Parks, associate director of the Cunan Center for Professional Success.
“I got the chance to meet employers from companies that were different from what I’m used to,” said Nathan Behanna, a senior majoring in marketing. “It was a great opportunity to learn more about them and explore.”
Immersive MBA student Cole Languell said he made the most of his time at the career fair by meeting with representatives from several organizations, including Airbus, Grady-White Boats, World Cat, Cummins and ECU Health. He said the representative with Grady-White followed up with him and encouraged him to apply for one of their open positions.
“These conversations helped me better understand the variety of career paths within manufacturing, including opportunities I had not previously considered,” Languell said. “Overall, the event was a valuable experience.”
While it’s not a job interview – yet – junior finance major Noah Bullock will be job shadowing with one of the participating companies later this month in its finance department.
“The career fair helped me better understand the skills needed to succeed in a manufacturing career today,” Bullock said.
The career fair wasn’t just for the students; the businesses had goals in mind as well.
“We participated in the manufacturing fair to network with fellow manufacturers and try to find summer interns to help with marketing,” said Tate Mayo, cofounder of Mayo Mills, a sock company in Tarboro. The Mayos grow the cotton on their family farm and make the socks in their family’s factory. Mayo is an MBA student at ECU and likes the idea of potentially working with fellow ECU students.
“There are two students whom we intend to pursue for internship opportunities,” Mayo said.
About 30 manufacturing employers took part in the inaugural manufacturing career fair. It also included groups like Grow in Greenville, a sub-brand of Invest Greenville. The nonprofit’s goal is to keep talented employees in Greenville and Pitt County, as well as to recruit individuals to the area.
“We raise awareness of the wide variety of industries in our community and show students that they do not have to leave Greenville-Pitt County to be successful,” said Julia Davis, ECU alumna and Invest Greenville talent engagement manager. “They can truly live, work and grow in Greenville!”
“It was a really nice experience,” said Jaumyah Jenkins, an ECU MBA student from the Triangle. “I made a lot of connections with companies like J&J and Grady White Boats.
The event also gave manufacturers a direct way to connect with students from multiple disciplines within the COB and the College of Engineering and Technology. Parks said that manufacturing plays a major role in the economy of eastern North Carolina, and many students may not realize how good the manufacturing opportunities are.
“The average salary in manufacturing is close to $80,000 according to the NC Chamber, and nearly every business function exists, including those that our students study,” Parks said.
The manufacturers even had the opportunity to network and collaborate with each other. Mayo said the Manufacturing ENC Career Fair helped his company solve a problem.
“We even found someone to put grips on our socks for us! My sister, Grace, had been trying to find someone to do that for almost two years, and we would not have made that connection had we not attended,” Mayo said. “The event was a success for us.”
The career fair was hosted by East Carolina University’s College of Business through the Cunanan Center for Professional Success and the College of Engineering and Technology. Parks said, based on feedback, there will be more Manufacturing ENC Career Fairs in the future.
“The career fair was fantastic,” Davis said. “As a Greenville-Pitt County native and ECU College of Business alumna, I found it especially rewarding to help them see our community as more than a college town and connect them with opportunities to thrive. Students can build a meaningful career, enjoy a great quality of life and make Greenville-Pitt County their home long after graduation.”