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Jessica Nelms

Director of Career Development Julie Newman, right, offers career counseling to Clemson University student Sara Khoeini who is working on her Master's degree.

CLEMSON — Despite a troubled economy, Clemson University’s fall career fair is booked up, with more than 260 companies reserving spots. Michelin Career Center Executive Director Flora Riley said the saturation illustrates a renewed commitment to on-campus recruitment.

“Businesses have known for a while about this whole idea of branding themselves with students,” Riley said. “If students don’t recognize the name, they might not pay attention to it. It’s not a new idea at all.”

During previous economic downturns, Riley said Clemson saw a notable drop in on-campus recruitment, with companies reducing time spent or eliminating visits altogether. But this time, things are different.

Next week’s career fair will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 24-25 in Littlejohn Coliseum. A majority of the recruiters are looking at upcoming Clemson graduates in engineering and science and business. However, the fair also attracts potential employers from banks, construction firms and the federal government. With all business recruiter reservations filled, companies have formed a waiting list hoping to swoop up last minute vacancies.

“Every time companies tried to come back (after reducing on-campus recruitment), they had to start from ground zero to reconnect with students and faculty,” Riley said. “With a lot of baby boomers retiring, they need to find replacements for those positions. For the next several years, they’re really going to need college recruits. But there’s not enough college graduates out there, so competition is going to be fierce among employers. In a way, they’re looking at the end of a barrel of a gun.”

Because of fewer job openings, upcoming college graduates also face a hard road. Riley, who’s been Clemson’s Michelin Career Center executive director for five years, said the job market was much stronger a year to 18 months ago. Perhaps as a result of the economic climate, student usage of the career center was up 82 percent during the first six weeks of fall semester, compared to the same time last year.

With a competitive job field, Riley said internships have become even more paramount for students.

“Companies want students who are engaged and have some experiences,” she said.

In addition to providing a clearinghouse for internship options, the center prepares students for the job hunt. Counselors work with students to teach them search techniques. Mock interviews, resume critiques and workshops are offered. There are also technological resources, including job search tools that peruse job board hordes to recover choice gigs.

“It saves the students a lot of time,” Riley said.

According to Riley, the center begins working with Clemson undergrads their freshman year. Students are encouraged to utilize center services up to one year beyond graduation.

Last year, more than 500 employers attended the Clemson’s two centralized career fairs, which drew over 3,000 students. Between 50 and 80 hours of job events are scheduled per semester. Riley said about 80 percent of Clemson students will work with the Michelin Career Center before they graduate.

To continue its evolution, the Michelin Career Center teamed with Clemson’s five colleges to e-mail a Web-based survey to recent college grads. The effort netted a 40-percent response rate, which Riley characterized as “pretty darn good.”

“With surveys, anything over 20 to 25 percent is considered excellent,” she said.