From Handshakes to Hires: FAMU’s Career Expo Delivers Opportunity
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) hosted its annual Career & Internship Expo last week with some enhancements and returning companies eager to experience Rattler pride. Suits were pressed, résumés were printed, and confidence filled the Al Lawson Center.
For many FAMU students, it’s not whether they want a career, but how to land one. And for one afternoon, a handshake had the potential to lead to a job offer or spark a conversation into an internship.
This year, several notable additions were introduced, including a student lounge where attendees could grab a quick breakfast to refuel before engaging with employers.
Director of the Career and Professional Development Center Tamara K. Taylor said the addition was an important enhancement to this year’s Spring Career Expo.
“We know students often skip breakfast and lunch to come to the expo; we just wanted to give them a little extra protein to help them stay fueled and hydrated while they’re speaking with employers,” Taylor said.
A Florida A&M University student connects with a recruiter during a networking opportunity,
exchanging a handshake that could mark the beginning of a future career path. (Photo
Courtesy of FAMU)
Many familiar companies returned, including Johnson & Johnson, DaVita and Fidelity, along with numerous FAMU alumni who came back to recruit students.
Cintas, a leading U.S. business service provider, was among them, represented by Ceasar Mackee, a FAMU alumnus who graduated in Fall 2024. Like many graduates, Mackee entered a management training program with Cintas after completing his degree.
“I started out as an intern, diving straight into Cintas’ full-time rotational crash course management classes,” Mackee said. “FAMU’s rigorous (academic) work really prepared me for my internship. From professional development to elevator pitches, I started to doubt what all of this was for until I entered my internship with Cintas.”
Mackee shared that everything he learned since a FAMU freshman helped him standout during his internship.
“Everything I did as an intern prepared me for my full-time role now,” he said.
Now returning as a recruiter, Mackee is helping lead Cintas back to FAMU.
“There is a lot of potential here at FAMU,” he said. “The way they prepare students in professionalism, I don’t think anywhere can compete with that. The amount of effort FAMU puts into their students always produces top-tier talent, which is why I encourage my team to return.”
Cintas was not the only alumni-led organization that returned to “the Hill.” Lt. Cmdr. Brianna Vegas, with the U.S. Coast Guard, a FAMU alumna and returning representative, also shared why the university remains a key recruitment destination.
“Some of my colleagues and I attended FAMU, so it’s always nice to come back here as recruiting ambassadors,” Vegas said. “We joined the Coast Guard through CSPI (College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative), which allowed us to enter as sophomores and juniors, build our educational foundation alongside Coast Guard training and become officers.”
A recruiter engages with Florida A&M University students during a career fair, offering
insights and opportunities as students present themselves and explore potential career
paths. (Photo Courtesy of FAMU)
Vegas explained that Coast Guard supported her education, allowing her to focus on her academics and ultimately advance into a role supervising logistics and finance.
“It absolutely is the caring with excellence that FAMU provides to its students each and every time that keeps us coming back.”
Students in attendance also recognized the value of showing up and making connections in person. Cornelius Pace, an architecture graduate student from Tallahassee, Florida, emphasized the importance of being present at the expo.
“I think it is very high-quality companies here,” he said. “You didn’t see them all on the website for Handshake, but a lot more actually showed up. It’s very important to actually show up and see who’s here.”
As he prepares to graduate in May, Pace said attending the expo is critical to positioning himself for the next step in his career.
“It’s very important for me, just so I can have my options open and see who’s hiring and who needs my skills,” he said. “That way I can apply my best skills to the best place possible.
Pace left the expo with three top employers in mind and plans to begin applying and moving through the interview process.
For one afternoon, résumés became introductions, conversations became connections, and opportunities felt closer than ever.
As employers packed up and students exited the Al Lawson Center, one thing remained clear: FAMU continues to prepare its Rattlers not just for jobs, but for lasting careers.
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
