As an ambitious computer science major at UCF,聽Kenny Nguyen 麻豆精品 S�25聽was already thinking ahead before graduating聽聽 麻豆精品 S� about internships, industry connections and the kind of real-world experience that would launch his career as a cyber analyst for Deloitte & Touche.
Thanks to 麻豆精品 S檚 dedicated support for STEM students, he had access to resources so he would not have to navigate that journey alone.
麻豆精品 S淓ngineering is hands-down our most active liaison area, 麻豆精品 S� says Taylor Sandifer 麻豆精品 S�23MA, assistant director of employer relations in Career Services who supports all STEM majors, including the College of Engineering and Computer Science. 麻豆精品 S淐ECS students show up to everything. They 麻豆精品 S檙e really engaged, and they take advantage of every opportunity. 麻豆精品 S�
For Knights like Nguyen, that means access to employers through engineering-focused employer-led workshops, resume reviews, mock interviews, and the highly attended , which occurs annually in the fall at the Addition Financial Arena, where as many as 300 employers fill the venue.
Big Companies Recruit Knights
Before Expo, students can聽participate聽in the Career Readiness Program, a two-week series including industry-specific, employer-led sessions where recruiters host one-on-one resume reviews and mock interviews to help students prepare.
UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 employer-relations model attracts major companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Siemens Energy, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and Walmart directly to campus for tabling, information sessions,聽and networking events.
麻豆精品 S淓mployers coming in to recruit STEM talent will work with us to get connected, 麻豆精品 S� Sandifer says. 麻豆精品 S淲e help them get into the engineering atrium, set up information sessions, reach students through Handshake, and collaborate with CECS to spread the word.
麻豆精品 S淲e want students to see a clear path from UCF to a career. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Taylor Sandifer 麻豆精品 S�23MA, assistant director of employer relations in Career Services
麻豆精品 S淲e want students to see a clear path from UCF to a career. When they put in the effort, and we can help make those connections, it all comes together. 麻豆精品 S�
Sandifer has seen firsthand how transformative this can be.
麻豆精品 S淥ne computer science student (Nguyen) showed up on the wrong day 麻豆精品 S� in a suit 麻豆精品 S斅燽ut stayed anyway, 麻豆精品 S澛爏he recalls. 麻豆精品 S淗e came back the next day, met with recruiters, and we聽connected him with Deloitte & Touche. He ended up getting the job. His hard work and willingness to show up made the difference. 麻豆精品 S�
Real World Ready
Nguyen credits the Dixon Career Development Center in helping him shape his career path.
麻豆精品 S淚聽wasn 麻豆精品 S檛聽very prepared initially and had no idea where聽to even聽start. It was overwhelming just thinking about it, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 attended an event I found off Handshake and it turned into me getting resume reviews, mock interviews, and attending events that got me to meet employers I was passionate about joining. 麻豆精品 S�
He took advantage of summer appointments, interview strategies,聽and also聽printed business cards to hand out to the company representatives at the聽Internship and聽Career Expo. Those efforts paid off with an opportunity at Deloitte 麻豆精品 S� a place he was drawn to for its culture and its constant flow of new challenges.
His biggest takeaway from his experience with the Career Center is to be persistent and open to every opportunity.
麻豆精品 S淵ou never know what conversation you have with someone that could turn into a huge career opportunity, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
罢丑别听 will take place on Tuesday, March 10.
