The Rawls Career Management Center (CMC) hosted the Spring 2026 Career Fair at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center earlier this semester, connecting 1,165 Red Raiders with 373 recruiters from 109 companies. Supported by Enterprise Mobility, the event offered the next generation of business leaders the chance to network with recruiters in pursuit of internships and full-time positions.
Preparation and Impact
Since the start of the semester, the CMC has provided Rawls College students with a variety of resume resources, coaching sessions, mock interviews, and workshop events to support their success and prepare them for the career fair. Through these efforts, students had several opportunities to network with recruiters, ask questions, and build confidence ahead of the event.
The night before the fair, the CMC invited all business students to attend the Rawls Etiquette Dinner, where they enjoyed a formal dining experience while learning practical tips on professional etiquette. The following morning, supply chain and finance departments each hosted specialized networking breakfasts, where students met company representatives in their respective fields before diving into the fast-paced fair environment.
These preparation efforts did not go unnoticed by recruiters. Payton Bourquin, financial examiner at the Texas Department of Banking and career fair recruiter, said the students he met asked the right questions to learn about his organization on a deeper level.
“Tech does a great job of helping prepare kids to communicate clearly and advocate for themselves,” he said. “It sets them apart from other candidates.”
Continuing the momentum, students participated in more than 150 interviews in the following days, many leading to job and internship offers.
Event Legacy
Beyond prospective employment, this event gave students a glimpse into the culture of healthy competition and personal advocacy that defines the business world.
For freshman energy commerce major Grace Ebert, the environment was a strong personal motivator. She prepared by participating in CMC workshops, attending the Rawls Etiquette Dinner, and researching her top companies ahead of time – a practice she’s applied at her previous career fairs. While her goal was to secure a summer internship, she saw networking as equally important.
“Last semester at the career fair, I created a connection with an employer I saw again at this fair, and we were able to talk about a conversation we had months ago,” said Ebert.
Moments like this highlight how interpersonal connections made at networking events
help students stand out later during the recruitment process.
View Spring 2026 Career Fair photos →
Visit CMC Recruitment Events page for information on upcoming events →