Contributed by Ashleigh Congdon-Fuller, A&E CAD Program Coordinator 

ACC’s Architectural & Engineering CAD (A&E CAD), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Geospatial Engineering (GE) programs hosted their first big joint job fair at ACC Highland Campus on Friday, October 21.

More than 120 attended the event and were able to connect with 60 local employers who are actively hiring for CAD, GIS, and GE positions, including:

  • Austin Water
  • City of Austin
  • City of Round Rock
  • Civilitude
  • Department of State Health Services GIS Team
  • GarzaEMC
  • HDR Engineering
  • Kimley-Horn
  • Page Architecture
  • Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc.
  • Samsung
  • Southwest Engineers, Inc.
  • Texas Natural Resources Information System
  • Travis Central Appraisal District

The job fair featured a welcome session for students and employers, a spring 2023 advising session for current students, an alumni Q&A symposium, a portfolio presentation, and an industry Q&A panel. 

Seventeen employers participated in break-out sessions that allowed them each to make a presentation directly to students to promote their company and the positions they’re hiring for. Throughout the event, employers had the opportunity to reserve a classroom to interview students on the spot. 

Attendees received a “Career Passport.” Those who received 10 signatures from employers were entered for a door prize and had the opportunity to earn extra credit in each of their classes.

In collaboration with Career Services, ACC’s A&E CAD, GIS, and GE departments hosted a “Prepare for the Fair” event on October 7, two weeks prior to the job fair. Students in these departments learned how to prepare their resumes, receive resume help from Career Services, approach employers with an “elevator pitch,” dress for success, and more. 

The feedback that event organizers have received from students and employers has been overwhelmingly positive and at least two employers have made offers to students they met at the job fair.

Watch recordings from some of the job fair sessions below: