Fair connects New Mexico Tech students with career options: New Mexico Tech

Fair connects New Mexico Tech students with career options

Feb. 2, 2023

Students meet with 70 companies, organizations, and academic institutions

Meghan McDonald, New Mexico Tech alum and principal engineer at the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, left, discusses career options with Caleb Crosswhite, a junior studying mechanical engineering.

SOCORRO, N.M. – New Mexico Tech students facing the daunting challenge of how and where to enter the workforce explored a plethora of full-time job and internship options at the Spring Career and Graduate School Fair. The fair, held Jan. 31, 2023, at the Fidel Student Center, attracted 70 companies and organizations eager to connect with students preparing to launch careers or continue their education.

In the days leading up to the career fair, students had the opportunity to attend workshops on resume building, interviewing skills and elevator speeches, how to dress and make an impression, and other topics intended to help them make the most of their 1-on-1 meetings with recruiters, all sponsored by the New Mexico Tech Center for Student Leadership and Engagement. Sophie Bauer, career services coordinator, said students also could get their resumes critiqued before handing them out to recruiters.

“Flash resume reviews are a quick review of your resume – no appointment necessary, just stop by and get some feedback in five minutes or less,” she said.

Brian Pando,, Crystal Flores, Jesus Flores-Olivas — PNM engineer and New Mexico Tech alum Brian Pando, left, greets civil and environmental engineering student Crystal Flores, center, who will graduate in May and is seeking job opportunities. Jesus Flores-Olivas, right, also is an NMT alum and civil engineer at PNM with its transmission engineering group.

The fair attracted hundreds of students who met with recruiters and NMT alums who work at the companies. Corporations and organizations – including national labs, engineering and consulting firms, state and federal agencies, and graduate schools – talked directly to students about workforce options.

Senior biomedical sciences major Sinai Grijalva attended the fair to explore internship opportunities that might lead to a job after she graduates in December 2023. Grijalva wants to use what she’s learned in design classes and discussed that possibility with ATA Engineering’s Kyle Smith and Marcus Billings. The San Diego-based engineering services firm is looking to grow its Albuquerque office’s workforce.

Sinai Grijalva, Kyle Smith, Marcus Billings — New Mexico Tech biomedical sciences major Sinai Grijalva, left, discusses internships and job opportunities with Kyle Smith, center, and Marcus Billings, right, of ATA Engineering. The engineering services firm representatives attended the Jan. 31, 2023, Career Fair to recruit talent for its Albuquerque office.

“We’re here to look for qualified candidates – full time and interns,” Billings said. “We have plenty of work and are looking to grow. NMT is a great university to look for qualified talent.”

PNM engineers and alums Brian Pando and Jesus Flores-Olivas returned to NMT to discuss renewable energy projects with engineering students. NMT alum Meghan McDonald, a principal engineer at the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, attended to recruit for her agency’s tech workforce.

John Lempke, a chemical engineering major, dressed his best for the Spring Career and Graduate School Fair Jan. 31 at New Mexico Tech's Fidel Student Center. Lempke said he was seeking an internship in process engineering that might lead to a full-time job after graduation in December 2023.

The Center for Student Leadership and Engagement also sponsors a free career closet and encourages students to stop by on the second floor of Fidel Center to check out the interview-appropriate clothing.