SENEDIA attends university job fairs with a critical goal in mind: to connect the next generation of talent to meaningful opportunities in the defense industry.
By attending job fairs at universities across New England, we ensure that this next-gen workforce is aware of and excited about the industry, and that our member companies have access to top-tier talent that will drive innovation and growth.
What makes these fairs valuable to us is not only the number of students we connect with – more than 400 connected with us at career fairs in October alone – but also the insights we gain from our conversations with them. We’re hearing consistently from students that they are seeking meaningful work – work that gives them a sense of purpose – and hands-on experience in internships and jobs. Many students who stop by our tables are eager to learn more about IT, cyber, and engineering pathways. Students with an interest in business analytics, supply chain management, and finance are curious about how these skills could translate to defense careers — and many even applied for positions on the spot.
For SENEDIA’s member companies, this strong student interest in the defense industry is indicative of a motivated incoming workforce. We’ve already placed 24 interns with member companies this year, and since the program began, 108 candidates have landed jobs.
This emerging talent pipeline is already making an impact in the industry.
Through the opportunities SENEDIA has facilitated, we have a growing portfolio of successful case studies. URI engineering interns are hard at work at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems. A CCRI student earned CompTIA Security+ Certificate from SENEDIA, which helped them get their first professional cybersecurity role at IGT. A Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate turned their internship experience into a good-paying job offer in energy systems.
These are just a few success stories that highlight why we prioritize engagement with young people eager to begin their professional pathways. We will continue to reach out, attend more career fairs, and accelerate our placement of direct-hires to strengthen the defense workforce and support our member companies with highly skilled, career-ready talent.
That’s our goal – and it’s what our members need most to grow.
SENEDIA participates in the region’s job fairs through our Defense Jobs Partnership Program. Click here to get connected to all the resources available through this program, including vetted candidate resumes and internship funding.
