Heard of Elmer’s, Paper Mate and Sharpie? Or, perhaps Yankee Candle, Coleman and Rubbermaid? Those well-known names are divisions of Newell Brands, a global maker, marketer and distributor of consumer and commercial products. 

Newell Brands will be on campus Friday, Oct. 25. 

So will Gartner, one of the world’s leading research and advisory companies, helping to equip leaders with insights, advice and tools for strategic decision-making and organizational growth. Operating in more than 100 countries, Gartner has annual revenues of $4 billion and employs 15,000-plus people. 

Just maybe, you could be one of them. 

Newell Brands and Gartner will be among the approximately 65 companies participating in Stetson’s Fall Internship & Career Expo, held at the Hollis Center’s Rinker Fieldhouse, noon to 3 p.m. 

The event is open to all Stetson students, with no RSVP required. Last fall, 390 students attended, the most ever for the expo.

The companies promise to arrive looking to hire. Newell Brands is a newcomer to Stetson after rethinking its approach to building an entry-level sales force. Newell executives visited the campus and, duly impressed, agreed to sponsor a sales lab in the Lynn Business Center, as well as attend the expo.

“They have told me that ‘what you guys are doing at Stetson seems to really fit where we want to go,’” described Tim Stiles, executive director of Stetson’s Office of Career and Professional Development.

Notably, for students interested in the company, majoring in sales isn’t required, Stiles added. “[Executives] are looking for a mindset, certain characteristics people have. … They are looking for a broad range of students,” he said.

Likewise, Gartner, which accounts for roughly a 70% market share in the corporate IT enterprise systems world, “has interest in recruiting across all functions, not just sales,” said Stiles, pointing to Stetson alumna Tricia Reilly ’95, who majored in psychology and now is a senior account manager of multiple significant accounts at Gartner. 

In much the same way, according to Stiles, the expo isn’t intended solely for juniors and seniors.

“This is for all students,” he said. “It is beneficial to learn what’s out there, especially for students in the deciding mode about their major. If you don’t know what’s out there, you’re not going to make good choices.”

Stiles’ parting words of advice to students: “Go around and talk to people who hire Stetson people; find out what they’re looking for. Make connections now. … That early networking pays off.”

And there’s more. 

To help students prepare for the event, Career and Professional Development has an enhanced HattersJob app (free download). Through the app, students can see the list of employers and brief company profiles. During the event, students can take notes on the app and mark who they’ve visited. Students may download the app at any time (to prepare), plus they will be given the chance to download the app at event check-in.

In addition, Career and Professional Development will have a “first-impressions” table set up, staffed to provide helpful tips and other information. Also, free professional headshot photos will be made available to students (along with faculty and staff). Note: Dressing to impress is key.

Finally, as with any job interview, students are encouraged to arrive early. As extra incentive, the first 25 students in line, starting at 11 a.m., will receive a $10 gift card for Chick-fil-A.

-Michael Candelaria

Stetson’s Fall Internship & Career Expo

• Friday, Oct. 25
• Noon to 3 p.m.
• Hollis Center’s Rinker Fieldhouse, Stetson University