UMSL students explore career paths at Fall Internship and Job Fair

UMSL students explore career paths at Fall Internship and Job Fair

by Dave Benson | Sep 14, 2026

The new School of Engineering at the University of Missouri-St. Louis is already attracting the attention of employers eager to connect with its future graduates.

For Evan Maxwell, an intermediate human resources specialist with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Fall Internship and Job Fair on Friday offered an opportunity to begin building a relationship with UMSL's emerging engineering program and introduce students to careers helping keep Missouri's roads and highways running.

"This is a good opportunity for us to get in with those students and become a resource for the new engineering department," Maxwell said.

Held at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, the fair brought together 96 employers, represented by nearly 300 recruiters and professionals, and more than 430 students and alumni. The event created opportunities for Tritons to explore career paths, make professional connections and prepare for life after graduation.

MoDOT is among the employers looking to recruit students for internships and full-time positions, with opportunities available across Missouri and in a variety of fields. Maxwell said the agency plans to hire about 25 interns for next summer in its engineering departments in the St. Louis area, in addition to offering internships through its seven districts across the state.

The fair also provides an opportunity to connect with job seekers outside engineering and introduce them to the breadth of work the agency does. Maxwell said the relaxed atmosphere and one-on-one conversations give MoDOT the ability to introduce students from a variety of academic backgrounds to potential career paths while building relationships with future graduates. She added that UMSL students have the enthusiasm, skills and commitment to public service that the agency seeks in its employees.

"Everybody has to use our highway system and our roads, so we have to make sure that we get the best people out there that are working on those roads that care about the community and want to give back," she said. "We know that UMSL is going to have a lot of students that use that criteria and have the values that we're looking for as well."

Overall, the Fall Internship and Job Fair brought together employers from 35 industries and students at different stages of their academic careers, from those beginning to explore potential fields to graduating seniors seeking full-time positions. For many, the event offered a chance to learn about organizations they might not have considered, ask questions and make connections that could prove valuable long after the day ended.

Marquan Bailey, a senior mechanical engineering student, has attended the fair every year during his time at UMSL, and he said his approach has changed as he has progressed through college. During his first two years, Bailey primarily used the event to become more comfortable talking with recruiters and introducing himself to potential employers. Now, with graduation approaching, he is focused on finding a full-time position.

"Applying online doesn't usually give me interviews," Bailey said, "but when I actually get my resume in the hands of recruiters, I get more response from them."

Bailey credited UMSL with helping him become much more comfortable approaching employers and making those connections.

"UMSL was really good with building my confidence for talking to people, talking to recruiters," he said. "So now, I'm coming here without anxiety and just constantly talking to people."

Sophomore business student Selma Jugovic was at her second job fair hosted by UMSL, having also attended the spring event. As she continues taking courses in accounting, marketing and finance to help her decide which field she would like to pursue, Jugovic said she welcomed the chance to introduce herself to employers and become familiar with companies that might interest her as she approaches her junior year.

"I try and take advantage of all the opportunities that UMSL provides," Jugovic said.

Senior Isabella Garza, a data science major, was attending her first UMSL career fair, and she made sure to prepare ahead of time by researching the companies that would be there, focusing on organizations that aligned with her interests. But she also made a point of talking with employers whose work might not have been an obvious match for her background, and she said those conversations can help students discover ways to apply their skills in unexpected fields.

Garza said support from UMSL advisors, professors and supervisors from the UMSL Geospatial Collaborative also helped her prepare for the fair, including through assistance with resumes and career preparation.

"I feel like I have a lot of people in my corner from UMSL," she said.

That support extends beyond the career fair itself. Students also pointed to opportunities through Career Services and their coursework to learn about professional expectations and prepare for conversations with potential employers.

Emmanuel Adewale, a senior information systems student, said a World Wide Technology event held on campus earlier in the week helped him prepare for the fair. The event included discussions about resumes, professional mindsets and ways to advance a career.

Adewale said he appreciated the opportunity to meet with organizations that he may not have otherwise considered.

"Sometimes the best match you get is the one that you're not expecting," he said.

Representatives for Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate and property management services firm, said they were grateful for the connections that have been made with quality interns and future employees over the years. Senior client accounting manager Jared Streiler, a 2014 UMSL graduate, said his group regularly leaves the fair at UMSL with a stack of resumes from promising prospects.

"We always get so many good candidates," he said.

It's that wealth of talent that has Maxwell excited about connecting with the School of Engineering. She said as UMSL continues to develop its engineering offerings, MoDOT knows how important it will be to tap into the pipeline of potential employees.

"We have confidence that UMSL is going to do a great job preparing those future engineers," she said.

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