NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 27, 2022) – The Nashville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with Tennessee State University at a Career Fair on Friday, Sept. 23.
The Corps of Engineers focuses on recruiting and hiring potential employees from all backgrounds and education levels, with those in science, technology, engineering, and math as the main focal point.
Approximately 500 businesses registered for the event, making it one of the biggest career fairs held at TSU. Over 992 students and recent graduates registered for the event. Many employers accepted resumes on the sport and spoke with potential hires to set up interviews.
“We have a lot of opportunities for students and recent grads. Entry-level engineering positions are currently available, so recent engineering students have an opportunity to come out of college and begin a fulfilling career right in the job fields they want to be in,” said Chief of Civil Design Phillip Evans.
Over 40 students stopped by the Corps of Engineers information table, and several left resumes after they scanned the QR code to apply online.
The Corps is seeking recent graduates with degrees in engineering, biology, engineering technology, and surveying concentrations. “We want to grow our organization with recent graduates who want to live locally, doing what they love, while also serving the communities they come from. We want to build strong relationships with these students, and with these recent grads, looking for a fulfilling career,” said Evans.
Working for the Corps comes with all the commonly known benefits of working for a federal agency, like health insurance benefits, the ability to move laterally in a career field, and opportunities for growth and further education. One thing the Corps has changed to accommodate employees during the pandemic is improved work-life balance.
According to Deputy District Commander MAJ Todd Mainwaring, the Corps’ overall mission is improved by recognizing what employees need to perform their jobs successfully. “Telework has become a big thing during the pandemic. Not all jobs can be worked from home, but for those who can, it’s helped them to continue in their careers, while still being able to focus on their health and their family,” said Mainwaring.
Mainwaring continued, “we’re here to recruit the next generation of engineers for the Nashville District, and when I talk with these students, I can really tell they want a sense of purpose when it comes to their careers. You can sense their drive for something bigger than just money or location, and I believe the Corps offers that with careers that are massive and purposeful.”
Amber Smith, a recent engineering graduate from Middle Tennessee State University, said she heard about the job fair from a friend who currently attends TSU. “I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity to meet with so many businesses who are hiring. This is much better than trying to find jobs online; sometimes you never even hear anything back from them. Not even a rejection email.”
Smith said seeing people who look like her and recruiting for jobs she’s qualified for gives her hope that she’ll find a job soon. “I just graduated last Fall, but it’s been a challenge to find jobs that pay well and don’t expect you to have five or 10 years of experience in a field you’re educated in but not yet experienced. I’m just happy to see people, like myself, offering jobs worth applying to.”
Danita Jones, Chief of the Business Integration Office and a TSU alumna, said recruiting from local universities, like her alma mater, is vital to the Corps maintaining strong ties to the local community. Hiring motivated local talent driven to serve the communities they grew up in is important.
“As a civil works district, we have a lot of parks and dams. When we have emergency disasters, we’re called to help not just our state, but those surrounding us. We provide services that are community-driven, so recruiting from our local universities helps potential employees stay close to home, and still have a successful and rewarding career, without having to leave the state or even the country,” said Jones.
TSU Freshman Tyron Powers, an electrical engineering student, said he doesn’t really know what he’s looking for in the current job market, but events like this help him identify what’s out there and what he can look forward to when he graduates.
“I’m really just here to look around; many of us are. We’re not ready to enter the job market yet, but when that day comes, moments like this will help people like me identify what direction we’d like to move in with our careers,” said Powers.
Powers also said he’s relieved to see so many local businesses offering jobs worth applying for. “This gives great insight into what’s out there, and the jobs are pretty good.”
To view current jobs available with the Corps of Engineers, visit www.USAjobs.com
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. The public can also follow Kentucky Lock on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kentyckylock.)
Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest Nashville District employment and contracting opportunities at https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.