College of Engineering and Computer Science Employer Showcase

Getting started on the right career path can be challenging for some students, but it’s made much easier when that student can make a connection with their future employers. That was one of the reasons behind the creation of the Employer Showcase, an event hosted by the Islander Engineering and Computer Science Council (IECSC) that provided Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Engineering and Computer Science students with opportunities to connect with potential employers and sponsors. The event was the brainchild of Alison Tomlinson ’26 and Brenden Oller ’25, student leaders from IECSC. 

“We would not have been able to have this event if it weren’t for the help from the advisers at the Career Center,” Tomlinson said.  “We had the idea of hosting a ‘reverse career fair.’ It took about 8 months, but they really helped us bring that vision to life.”  

The Employer Showcase, which took place on April 16, 2025, featured 10 different student organizations, one capstone project, and over 50 business representatives from 20 different organizations including ArcelorMittal, The Port of Corpus Christi, Tesla, and more. It provided unique opportunities for not only TAMU-CC students, but also for the employers who attended.  

“I have attended many career fairs in my time where I was the one selling my company to students, but it was really great to flip the script and watch students sell themselves to us,” said Steve Synovitz, a representative with T. Baker Smith, a surveying firm. “I think this event puts a really cool spin on the traditional career fair.” 

In addition to students looking for their first major job out of college, some were looking for sponsors to help with the funding of various projects and events. Among them, a group from The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a student organization, who were on hand with the Formula One Racecar they are building. They were hoping to get funds to finish the project. 

Members from TAMU-CC's branch of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) were also at the showcase. They discussed their recent successes at a national competition in Wichita, Kansas, and were looking to secure funding so they can take part in other competitions this year.  

With both students and industry partners thrilled with the outcome of this showcase, university officials are now looking to make this an annual tradition.  

“This was the first time that we have ever hosted an event like this, and we learned a lot,” Chau Hoang, Associate Director of Career Services at TAMU-CC.  “We already have ideas for how we can improve and make the event even better next year.”