High-tech fair connects students with Indiana employers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Kelsey Jonkman stayed in Indiana after graduating last spring, thanks to a job he found at Purdue University's High Tech Job Fair for Indiana Companies.
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At the ninth annual fair, Purdue's Technical Assistance Program will again match students with prospective degrees in technology, science, engineering, management and agriculture to Indiana companies with high-tech job openings. More than 60 companies from throughout Indiana are expected to attend the event.
Jim Eaton, Crown-ESA's director of operations, said the quality of work from the 30 Purdue graduates his company has hired has prompted Crown-ESA to revise its recruitment strategies.
"After attending last year's job fair and hiring Kelsey directly from the fair, Crown-ESA has changed it's business hiring model to be more proactive with hiring young engineering graduates directly after their college graduation celebration," Eaton said. "Kelsey has demonstrated to Crown- ESA that Purdue offers young engineers with strong technical backgrounds and good work ethics. We are looking forward to hiring several more young engineers this fall at the fair and in future years."
Jonkman, who graduated with a degree in electrical and computer engineering technology, said he found the ideal position at the fair.
"With Portage being 20 minutes away from my hometown of Highland, it's definitely attractive being near home," Jonkman said. "I also had worked with some of the employees before and knew it would be interesting."
Technical Assistance Program director David McKinnis said the fair is one of several ways Purdue helps highly skilled graduates find good-paying jobs in Indiana.
"Purdue students are graduating from high-tech programs that consistently rank at the top," McKinnis said. "We want to put a plug in the brain drain and help Indiana employers gain direct access to our highly skilled graduates."
The fair — sponsored by the Purdue's colleges of Agriculture, Science, Technology and Engineering, the Krannert School of Management, and Purdue's Center for Career Opportunities — is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all Purdue campuses. Company representatives will screen candidates during the fair, and then interview selected students from 4-8 p.m.
"This isn't just a job fair for engineers," McKinnis said. "The fair also will attract students from business, computer integrated manufacturing, computer graphics, electrical engineering technology, along with chemists and biologists. We should be able to supply students for any high-tech job."
Companies represented will include computer software, e-commerce, computer consulting, manufacturing, insurance and health-care firms. McKinnis said current high-tech needs also make the job fair ideal for small businesses, as well as state and city government units, architecture and law firms.
Participation in the High Tech Job Fair for Indiana Companies is open to all companies that register through the fair Web site or by phone at (765) 494-6258. The job fair will include an information session with recruiting tips for high-tech businesses from 9:30-10:15 a.m.
On Thursday, Oct. 26, employers can interview students for full-time positions and summer internships at Stewart Center, located adjacent to the Purdue Memorial Union. Another option for employers and students is Purdue's Professional Practice Program, through which students spend 18 months working at a company between the end of their freshman year and the beginning of their senior year.
Established in 1986, the Technical Assistance Program's mission is to help business, industry and government use new technologies to benefit the citizens of Indiana and improve the state economy. Purdue faculty, staff and students have worked with more than 6,400 companies and hospitals to date. Their efforts have saved more than 4,000 jobs and accounted for more than $300 million in increased sales.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Sources: David McKinnis, (765) 494-6258, mckinnis@purdue.edu
Jim Eaton, (219) 762-0700, jeaton@crown-esa.com
Kelsey Jonkman, (219) 762-0700, kjonkman@crown-esa.com
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:Kelsey Jonkman, an electrical engineer with Crown-ESA, obtained his job through Purdue University's High Tech Job Fair for Indiana Companies last year. Jonkman of Highland, Ind., graduated from Purdue in 2005 with a degree in electrical and computer engineering technology. Crown-ESA, an engineering and manufacturing firm in Portage, Ind., will interview more prospective employees at this year's fair, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms. More than 60 companies from throughout Indiana are expected at the fair, which attracts students with prospective degrees in technology, science, engineering, management and agriculture. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2006/jonkman-jobfair.jpg
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