TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Resumes in hand and confidence on display, students packed the Trojan Center Ballroom ready to make an impression.

The Hall School of Journalism and Communication Career Fair was not just about finding a job. It was also about starting conversations that could lead students to their lifelong career.

“We send students all the way from freshman to the senior level to these things,” said Dr. Hanna Cooper, a lecturer in the Hall School of Journalism and Communication. “Really, the goal here is to get your best front forward and get you in front of some of these people that could later be your employers.

“Come with name cards, be confident, because you’ve been doing the work for so long at this point and time. Really it’s just an opportunity for you to showcase the skills you’ve already had.”

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From broadcast newsrooms to public service, employers like WSFA12 News, WDHN, the Alabama Department of Transportation, WAFF, and The Fuller Center for Housing came to look for fresh potential. For students, every handshake was a chance to stand out.

“Networking can have them a job,” said Vrund Shah, an Administrative Assistant for the Troy University Career Services. “Almost 80% of the jobs that are currently filled up are through networking and insider references.”

That is exactly what the event was built for: turning quick introductions into lasting connections.

“I think this a great opportunity to network both for the companies that are here as well as the students who are here,” said Sally Pitts, the News Director of WSFA 12. “For WSFA, this is a chance for us to meet the students Troy University currently has.

“We have so many Troy graduates at WSFA and we know that the Hall School of Journalism and Communication is an excellent program.”

In a competitive job market, moments like these can make all the difference, where one conversation today could become a career tomorrow.