As a project engineer with Albireo Energy, Mehgan O'Connor '18 is getting to make her mark on Florida Polytechnic University in a way that is unrivaled by the rest of her graduating class.
When Greg Willard '20 took a high school job packing and bagging grocery items at Publix Super Markets, he never imagined his time with the company would evolve from the supermarket floor to its website's technological infrastructure.
In the three years since Christopher Krenek '18 graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Polytechnic University, he has become an accomplished process engineer and manages a team of 20 at Carlisle Interconnect Technologies in Saint Augustine, Florida.
As students work their way through the spring semester, Florida Polytechnic University is making sure they have access to many virtual workshops, speaker sessions, and a career fair to improve their employability and their professional prospects.
The search for jobs and internships got more complicated after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many companies to shift their interview and hiring processes online. But Pairris Jones, Florida Polytechnic University's associate director of career development, said Phoenixes are well positioned to do well in today's employment landscape.
Life after graduation can be scary in the era of COVID-19. The novel coronavirus has severely affected the current job market with hiring freezes, limited recruitment, and major layoffs across many industries. However, it is a challenge Florida Polytechnic University students are prepared to face as they graduate equipped with a highly desirable STEM degree.
A persistent voice urging Lavendar Phan not to settle pushed her to chart her own course to professional success. Unafraid to pivot and try something new, Phan has gone from governmental consultant to Google account executive in 10 short years, discovering new strengths and passions along the way.
Editor's Note: This story is part of a series of feature stories that highlight diversity on Florida Poly's campus and celebrate Black History Month. As associate director of career services at Florida Polytechnic University, Pairris Jones revels in her front-row seat to student success.
