On Friday, Oct. 18, the Manufactured in NC: Manufacturing Career Fair brought together over 250 students and more than 40 employers from North Carolina’s thriving manufacturing sector.
Held at the NC State College of Textiles, this event welcomed students from all majors, offering opportunities to connect with companies of varying sizes across many industries.
A Showcase of North Carolina Manufacturing Excellence
What set this career fair apart was its exclusive focus on companies that manufacture in North Carolina. Students had the opportunity to network with industry leaders like Toyota, as well as new recruiters to NC State, such as Crown Equipment Corporation.
The diversity of industries represented allowed students to explore a wide range of career paths, including engineering, supply chain management, textiles, IT and data analytics, marketing, human resources, finance, management and quality control and logistics, all within the state’s thriving manufacturing sector.
Reflecting on the event’s significance, Kelly Laraway, director of employer relations, remarked, “North Carolina manufacturers make everything from furniture to vaccines, batteries, food, and high-tech appliances. It’s powerful to walk around and realize how much is made right here in our state.”
Sam Sanger, rural outreach coordinator, added, “This career fair, now in its second year, was born out of a clear need to connect NC State’s talented students to the thriving manufacturing sector here in the state. We are so grateful to the Wilson College of Textiles for providing the perfect venue. With the overlap between textiles, science, technology, and engineering, it really highlights how interconnected these sectors are.”
Employer Perspectives: Building Connections
For companies like International Paper, attending the fair presented a valuable opportunity to engage with a broad range of students. Clark Hight of International Paper shared, “We recruit a lot at NC State, but this was our first time attending this fair. It was great because we interacted with students from various disciplines, not just Paper Science and Engineering. We got to know them, and they got to know more about what we do.”
Similarly, new participants found success at the event. Sandara Occhoa, head of people and strategy at IFAB, a 400+ employee manufacturer in Gaston County, shared, “This was IFAB’s first NC State University Career Fair participation, and it was successful! We met so many talented and driven students who are eager to shape the future of engineering! Thank you to NC State for hosting such an amazing event!”
Mark Jessup, director of development at Atex Technology in Moore County, also reflected positively on the experience, “I thought both the College of Textiles and Manufacturing Career Fair events were great, well-attended, and the students we talked to seemed really focused. The Manufacturing Career Fair was well worth the time.”
Christine Rosin, corporate HR consultant for ATEX Technologies, also shared her enthusiasm: “Wow! What a wonderful group of NC State University students that were excited to stop by our ATEX Technologies table to learn about our internships & career opportunities. The Manufacturing Career Fair brought many diverse educational backgrounds, which included but were not limited to engineers, designers, financial analysts, textiles, technology, and many more! ATEX Technologies is very grateful to the NCSU staff that put it all together! Thank you, NC State!”
A Unique Opportunity for Students
The fair was designed to attract students from multiple disciplines who were interested in internships, co-ops and full-time roles in manufacturing. It served as a critical link between student talent and the robust manufacturing industry that drives North Carolina’s economy.
Why This Fair Matters for Employers
The Manufactured in NC Career Fair provided a platform for companies to increase their recruiting presence and brand visibility among NC State students. Whether a large corporation or a smaller enterprise, employers were able to connect directly with students eager to apply their skills in manufacturing.
The event’s registration was scaled based on the size of each company’s North Carolina operations, allowing businesses of all sizes to participate.
Partnering with NC State’s Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
The event also featured collaboration with NC State’s Industry Expansion Solutions (IES), which supports manufacturers across all 100 counties in North Carolina. By leveraging this partnership, IES representatives helped students explore potential job locations across the state, providing insights into where they might find opportunities that align with their career interests.
This career fair emphasized the strength of North Carolina’s manufacturing industry and offered students a unique opportunity to build connections with companies dedicated to shaping the future of the sector. Do you know a student interested in working in the manufacturing sector in North Carolina? Have them check out the Rural Works! program, which connects students to internships and job opportunities across the state’s rural counties. Learn more at Rural Works!.
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