As students near the end of their undergraduate journey, the pressure to decide their next steps can feel overwhelming.

For juniors, seniors and graduate students at Alabama State University, the Internship and Career Fair offers a crucial opportunity to explore future education and career paths. Held Oct. 15, at 10 a.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, this annual event provided guidance and resources for those considering higher education or careers in their field, helping students prepare for the transition to their next phase of life. The career fair is a resource that brings employers and representatives to help students navigate the path ahead.

Over 500 students attended the event, which featured 49 registered company table displays, including prominent names like Enterprise Mobility, Johnson & Johnson, BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Coca-Cola, WSFA 12 News and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Students attending the event were required to dress professionally, bring their resume and have their elevator pitch ready as they engaged with potential employers, explored internships and learned about various career opportunities.

Gwendolyn Shelton, administrative secretary for the Office of Career Services, emphasized the variety of employers present to cater to the university’s diverse academic programs.

“We have a total of 57 companies participating in today’s event,” Shelton said. “What we do to ensure that majors are represented, is we bounce off of a list of courses. We offer and try to cater the employers toward those majors so that no major is left out.”

Shelton also highlighted additional resources available at the fair, such as one-on-one interview practice, a headshot station and guidance on resume writing and personal branding.

“Over the years, the fair has improved. We have a wider variety of employers, more students participating, and overall, we’re really excited about it,” Shelton added.

The fair elicited a range of reactions from students.

Tiffany Davis, a junior majoring in communications, expressed some disappointment in this year’s event.

“My experience was a little disappointing, definitely compared to last year,” Davis said. “I was expecting more journalism-related tables, but I noticed there were less than last year.” However, she found a surprising interest in a tutoring table, saying, “My favorite part would probably be going to this table that tutors students and, surprisingly, made me very interested in applying.”

Ashston Smoot, a junior majoring in political science, also noted a desire for more diversity in career paths.

“The job fair was really nice. I just wish we had more options for other majors instead of just teaching,” Smoot said. Acknowledging the university’s roots as a teacher-training institution, he added, “We will and forever be a teacher assessor school; these are our roots. But having other career paths will provide more opportunities for the students who didn’t come here to teach.”

Other students found the event to be a valuable experience overall. Isaiah Brunson, a senior majoring in accounting, said, “The career fair was an awesome experience to say the least. There were many job employers from all respective fields of majors.” Brunson particularly enjoyed interacting with the U.S. Marines and WSFA, saying, “My favorite part of the career fair was being able to engage with U.S. Marines since they had a pull-up bar, and I love to exercise. I learned that WSFA is also available and looking for people with a good radio voice.”

Jon Coulter, a junior majoring in computer information systems, shared a positive experience.

“I had a great time. I enjoyed connecting and interacting with all of the recruiters. I learned that there are many opportunities out there,” Coulter said.

Nadia Parker, a junior majoring in forensic biology, also appreciated the event’s offerings.

“Overall, I had a good experience at all the tables I went to,” Parker said. “The attitude, conversation and dedication from all the tables was interesting. It allowed fuller insight and understanding into knowing how to move forward, wanting to join and what to join.”