TSTC in Marshall hosts Industry Job Fair

(MARSHALL, Texas) – More than 160 Texas State Technical College students and alumni met potential employers from throughout Texas and Louisiana on Thursday at its Industry Job Fair.

Students trekked through TSTC in Marshall’s South Building to talk to more than 30 companies looking to fill jobs in cybersecurity, fleet maintenance, education, software development, construction and other career fields.

Andrew McDavid, a recruiter at Ryder in Roanoke, Texas, said he was looking for potential heavy equipment mechanics, route engineers, software developers and electrical lineworkers.

McDavid said the company’s heavy equipment mechanics receive 80 hours of training each year. And, Ryder offers student loan reimbursements.

“Experience is one thing they need to have,” he said. “Our goal is to fill a job in 40 to 45 days.”

Josie Graham, an employment coordinator at Louisiana CAT in Reserve, Louisiana, said the company was in need of diesel technicians. She said TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program was a good source for the company.

“It’s great when there are colleges like this that offer this kind of program,” Graham said. “Students who grew up working on equipment are good for us.”

Louisiana CAT offers tuition reimbursement and comprehensive on-the-job and computerized training.

“We heavily promote from within,” Graham said.

Students were encouraged to bring resumes and ask company representatives questions.

Jody Liedtke, a TSTC Precision Machining Technology major from Henderson, said Koenig & Bauer sparked his interest. The company specializes in building printing presses.

“If you get hired, they send you to Germany for a year to teach you how to run the machinery and learn the language,” he said.

Some students were interviewed after the event by AEP (American Electric Power), said Hannah Luce, a TSTC Career Services coordinator.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to www.tstc.edu.