Nearly 2,000 students crammed Auburn Arena Tuesday, Oct. 6, in a record-breaking university career fair that gave representatives from 114 firms the opportunity to recruit future interns and employees. This attendance tops a previous record of 1,059 students, set at the Engineering and Technical Center fair earlier this semester. “This was better than our wildest dreams,” said Melissa Voynich, Student Engagement and Marketing Coordinator for the Harbert College of Business’ Office of Professional and Career Development. “Our goal was 800 students.” Instead, 1,842 students showed up -- armed in business suits with résumés. Firms lined the floor at Auburn Arena with well-decorated, staffed and informative tables. All were occupied by students interested in internship and career opportunities. “That’s a testament to our students,” Voynich added. “Students weren’t scared to walk up to a booth.” Firms left Auburn with a strong impression – as roughly 60 firms held follow-up interviews on Wednesday, Oct. 7. “Our students made Auburn really proud,” Voynich added. “When we talked to employers, they said over and over again that it was worth it just to be here because you meet that one student that you fall in love with. That makes us feel really good. A lot of recruiters said, ‘It was worth my time, it’s worth the hectic parking, in order to get the chance to talk to Auburn students.’ “Our students came in prepared, (clothes) ironed and pressed, résumés, the right shoes, and really represented well.” Mike Stover, Harbert College Employer Development Specialist, predicted that a wide variety of industries would fill the arena. They didn’t disappoint. “We had everything from management development programs, consulting firms, supply chain firms, huge Fortune 100 firms, as well as smaller companies,” he said. “I think the variety is because students have a variety of interests and a variety of career paths. It’s great to have smaller companies with smaller workforces, and then the companies than have 100,000 employees.” On Monday, Oct. 5, students were given the opportunity to meet with employers from 35 firms, giving them a better understanding of what qualities firms were looking for in potential hires and internships leading up to the fair. Students were given another opportunity to learn about prospective firms via the CareerFair Plus app, which provided company information. At the fair, roughly 270 students took advantage of a professional-style photo opportunity which can be used on their personal Linked-In and social media pages. “The event exceeded all of my goals tenfold – in terms of student participation, employer feedback, and the way the event ran,” Stover added. Employers and students can search #HireHarbert on Twitter and Instagram to continue the career conversation.