The Rawls College Career Fair, hosted by the Rawls Career Management Center (CMC), is renowned for connecting business students with top-tier professional opportunities,
and this year's fair was no exception. More than 1,600 Red Raiders made their way
to the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Sept. 25 to expand their horizons and engage
in a culture of connection.
Supported by Enterprise Mobility, the fair offered current students and recent alumni the opportunity to explore local
and national job openings, network with 125 different companies – including small
businesses, nonprofit organizations, government institutions, and Fortune 500 companies
– and showcase their career readiness and industry potential, in pursuit of securing
internships and full-time positions.
In preparation for the event, the CMC provided career prep workshops, personalized
coaching, and document reviews to ensure students were supported throughout the recruitment
process.The team printed around 17,000 resumes – using 34 reams of printer paper and
clearing out the local Staples and OfficeMax inventory in the process.
Setting this semester’s fair apart, the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) held a ribbon cutting. The event celebrated Rawls College’s growing collaboration
with the Chamber, aimed at strengthening local business involvement and expanding
career opportunities for students in the Lubbock area. The Chamber invited local business
leaders to experience the fair firsthand and encouraged their participation in future
events.
The connections didn’t end at the fair. In the following days, the momentum continued with nearly 200 in-person interviews at the college and the University Career Center, turning initial introductions into real career opportunities.
These opportunities continue a long-standing tradition of connecting students with
meaningful careers. Rawls College marketing alumna Lindley Herring, business development
manager and partner at Officewise, who also serves as a team leader for the Chamber’s
ambassador program and on the Chamber’s board of directors, recalled her own student
experience at the Career Fair two decades ago, where she landed her first real job.
“Back in 2001, management information systems was the major most companies were looking for,” Herring reflected. “I walked around the fair several times and, after almost completely giving up, I spotted a sign that read ‘Marketing.’ I couldn’t believe it!”
Herring connected with the recruiter from The MHA Group, a staffing firm, and secured an interview in Dallas. While all her friends were at the beach for their final spring break of college, she was landing her first job. She says it was well worth it!
“They offered me a position and were willing to wait for me to finish college,” she said. “I'll be forever grateful for this company!”
She spent 13 years with Staff Care, a temporary physician recruiting firm, working her way up from a marketing representative to a regional vice president of the company before moving to Lubbock and beginning her journey with Officewise, where she is now one of the owners.
“That first opportunity was so paramount to my career and becoming a professional – it’s hard to put into words,” she said. “My advice to students today is simple: Show up. To everything. You never know when your next opportunity may arise.”
Herring’s is one of the many journeys that reflects a long-term impact from the Rawls
Career Fair – an opportunity that continues to empower the next generation of business
leaders.