Recruiting for full-time positions starts the first week MPA students arrive on campus. The MPA program hosts multiple events in different formats so incoming students have the opportunity to meet representatives from a wide range of organizations. Let’s explore the fall recruiting events and what they entail.
MPA Career Lunch
The MPA Career Lunch is the first recruiting event of the semester and is held during Orientation. This is normally where students first meet recruiters. Approximately ten organizations attend MPA Career Lunch, and each give a brief introduction while highlighting topics that affect their company and industry, such as market trends and regulatory changes. Each company’s representatives then sit and interact with students during lunch. Afterwards, a networking dessert reception is held so students have a chance to connect with all organizations attending MPA Career Lunch. A similar event called MPA Career Dinner also takes place during the spring semester.
Students connect with a Briggs & Veselka Co. recruiter during the MPA Career Lunch.
MPA Meet the Firms: A Speed Networking Event
Meet the Firms is another event that occurs during Orientation. It provides a venue for students to connect with recruiters in a format that offers both a structured speed networking and more informal open networking. Think of speed networking as “speed dating” – two students sit with an employer and the trio have the chance network. After seven minutes, the two students rotate to a new employer. On the other side of the room, students can meet other companies they did not encounter during speed networking. All in all, 20 organizations were present at Meet the Firms. This is another event that takes place during the spring semester.
A recruiter from Phillips 66 shakes hands with an MPA student.
MPA Mock Interview Day
Mock Interview Day is held during the second week of class. This event allows MPA students to practice and improve their interviewing skills by signing up for mock interviews with recruiters. 20 different companies come to campus to mock interview students. Not only is this a great way for students to meet targeted organizations where they’d like to work, but it also gives them more confidence going in to actual interviews. After each mock interview, the recruiter fills out a feedback form which is given to the MPA Career Services team. Feedback is then relayed to the student so they can prepare for upcoming interviews. Mock Interview Day takes place in the spring, as well.
Students chat with recruiters before mock interviews.
MPA Industry Night
MPA Industry Night is held during the third week of class. Students attend this event to learn more about the industry employers that hire MPAs. Ten companies travel to UT’s campus and host three 25-minute information sessions that provide students a brief overview of their organization, culture, and career opportunities. After the info sessions, students have the option to connect with all participating employers at a networking reception. It is great way for students to learn more about an organization, then meet with a recruiter one-on-one.
MPA students mingle with recruiters from Dell and ExxonMobil at Industry Night.
These four events all take place within the first few weeks of school, but resume and LinkedIn workshops, career advising, peer-to-peer mock interviews, employer interviews, and more are continuously happening throughout the semester and year. Our program strives to offer a positive and helpful recruiting experience by providing multiple avenues for students to meet recruiters and prepare for interviews so they have a job secured by graduation.
Keep an eye out for more career information throughout the year by checking back on this blog and our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages!
