In advertisements for Miami University’s 2025 Fall Career and Internship Fairs, you saw Piper McGee ’25 smiling back at you. A photograph of McGee shaking hands with a Terillium representative at last year’s career fair was used throughout the campaign.

“A couple friends sent me a picture of the Miami website with my photo on the cover of the career fair article,” McGee said, with a laugh. “Initially, I thought it was funny and pretty random. After being sent it a few more times, I recognized the other person in the photo. He’s a manager at my current company.”

Students who attended either the Fall or STEM Fair would have seen McGee again, not as a student seeking a connection with a potential employer but as a Terillium finance consultant on the other side of the table.

“Out of all the photos they took last year, it was incredible they chose mine to promote this fall’s events,” said McGee, who majored in Finance and was a member of the Synchronized Skating team while at Miami. “I didn’t know it at the time, but a Miami photographer captured the moment I met my future employer. Now, I’ve graduated, started my career, and attended a Miami career fair as a recruiter. It feels so full circle.”

Terillium was one of 247 organizations that attended Miami’s 2025 Fall Career and Internship Fairs, a trio of signature networking events organized by the Center for Career Exploration and Success and sponsored by Medpace. The Fall Fair, STEM Fair, and Sport Career Exploration and Networking Expo (SCENE) drew 4,894 students over a three-day span from Sept. 9-11.

“Employers shared how impressed they were with our students,” said Valarie Jacobsen, director of employer relations. “They told us they were bright, engaging, and highly-qualified candidates prepared with company knowledge, great questions, and resumes. Many employers maximized their time on campus by holding over 300 next-day interviews, some of which have already resulted in employment offers.”

Last year, McGee was one of the students who secured a next-day interview that ultimately led to a job offer. Beth Zink, director of career development, shared how exciting it was to watch this year’s students go from preparing at the Career Fair Pop-Up Shop to meeting with employers at either Millett Hall or Goggin Ice Center.

“There was so much energy leading up to the career fairs,” Zink said. “We had over 1,500 students stop by our Pop-Up Shop to practice their elevator pitches, have their resumes reviewed, and ask any questions they had. We loved seeing these students successfully engage with employers at our career fairs and during next-day interviews.”

While McGee went through an additional super day of interviews at Terillium’s Cincinnati office before receiving her offer, some students are offered positions directly following their next-day interviews. Kristyn Gates, assistant director of employer relations, witnessed a Sport Leadership and Management senior receive a job offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers the day after SCENE.

“After he accepted it, they gave him his own Cavs jersey,” Gates said. “He laid the groundwork by connecting with the Cavs before and at SCENE. The Cavs mentioned they never usually hire on the spot, but, after meeting him in person, they were sold. Being able to watch a student’s journey from start to finish is exactly why we do what we do.”

The Center for Career Exploration and Success will host additional career fairs in the spring of 2026, with the exact dates to be finalized later this fall. When asked if she has any advice for Miami students looking to make the most of these networking opportunities, McGee answered without hesitation.

“My advice is to go,” McGee said. “I was apprehensive about going to a career fair. Luckily, my roommate pushed me in the right direction. My story shows how important it is to put yourself out there as much as you can, even with companies you may not know much about. Before going to the career fair, I hadn’t heard of Terillium because I wasn’t looking for jobs in the software/technology industry. Had I never stopped to speak with someone I recognized at their booth, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”