SHREVEPORT – In today’s low-hire, low-fire economy in which some companies have scaled back their entry-level positions, college students are having even more difficulty landing a job in their field.
Unemployment for recent college graduates ranges from 5.2 to 5.7 percent, while underemployment (working in positions that don’t require a bachelor’s degree) sits above 42 percent, according to national labor statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank.
But college students who make personal connections with employers fare better, and LSUS students and alumni have that chance at the LSUS Career and Internship Fair this coming Wednesday. The Fair, which is open to just LSUS students and alumni, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
More than 40 employers representing major industries ranging from healthcare and education to finance and criminal justice will be hunting for new talent.
“Data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) suggests that students who attend career fairs have a leg-up over their peers who do not attend,” said Jennie Flynn-McKevitt, director of LSUS Career Services. “Ninety percent of surveyed employers see Career Services as an important part of their hiring pipeline, and career fairs are an easy ‘on ramp’ to build their brand with students and get a good ROI on their time spent on campus.
“They don’t have to invest a lot of work to get connected to many prospective hires and to gauge their communication abilities and other transferable skills.”
A 2024 NACE student survey revealed that more than 45 percent of students who attended a career fair were offered an interview from that interaction, and nearly one in four received a job offer because of their career fair participation.
Whether students are trying to land an internship or a full-time job, Flynn-McKevitt said participation in a career fair is a big plus, and not just for students nearing graduation.
“The takeaway for students is that they should plan to attend, because otherwise, they remain an unknown entity to many organizations in the region who are actively hiring,” said Flynn-McKevitt, who took part in NACE’s Management Leadership Institute this past summer. “Career Fairs are excellent venues for first-year students exploring options, sophomores seeking experience, and for juniors pursuing internships or considering continuing their education.
“The earlier students start attending, the more comfortable they’ll feel interacting with employers, and the more connected and informed they’ll become about the industries that can use their talents.”
Flynn-McKevitt and her Career Services team spend the weeks and months beforehand preparing students to best tell their stories through written tools like resumes to in-person communication like casual conversation and interviews.
“Employers don’t just want to hear that candidates have skills; they want proof,” Flynn-McKevitt said. “In fact, 82% of employers surveyed in NACE’s 2026 Job Outlook report that graduates should demonstrate skills through examples rather than simply list them.
“Terms like ‘communication,’ teamwork,’ and ‘problem-solving’ may be good buzzwords, but compelling stories bring those skills to life. Through our resume writing support and interviewing preparation resources, we can teach them strategies about how to share their skills and offer them a low-stakes environment to practice and feel confident about conveying what they're building in their degree programs.”
Want to find opportunities outside of the Career Fair? Check out Handshake, a career platform for college students looking for career and internship opportunities.
