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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Tom Munnerlyn may not be an economist, but the director of Oregon State University's Career Services program says he sees signs of economic recovery on a daily basis, as employers gear up for a career fair at OSU on Feb. 21 and 22.

After five years of comparatively lean times, more prospective employers are returning this year to OSU. Between 150 to 160 companies are expected to interview more than 1,200 OSU students during the two-day fair, which is for all student majors on Feb. 21 and focuses on engineering on Feb. 22.

"We are seeing organizations sign up to come to campus this year that we haven't seen for a while, from Boeing to smaller, specialized companies," Munnerlyn said. "The economy obviously is picking up."

Oregon State annually draws more recruiters to campus than any other college or university in Oregon - in large part, Munnerlyn says, because of the breadth and depth of academic majors that OSU offers. That diversity is reflected in some of the "hot" areas for job-seeking students, he added.

"Some of the strongest areas for students are with health care companies and pharmacies," Munnerlyn said. "We're also seeing a lot of interest from construction engineering management firms. And retail appears to be doing well - not just sales management but purchasing, merchandising and other areas for companies like Nordstrom, Macy's and Mervyn's."

The upturn is encouraging, Munnerlyn said, but still doesn't approach the "boom years" of 1997 to 2000, when many OSU students received three and four job offers before graduating. Numerous Silicon Valley firms came to Oregon State, seeking not just engineering graduates but students from a variety of backgrounds with good communication skills.

It was, Munnerlyn said, a "student market" for employment.

"Many firms offered signing bonuses, stock options and even leases on BMWs," he pointed out. "We're not back to a 'student market' economy just yet. There are still more students out there than jobs available. But things are moving in the right direction."

OSU helps students prepare for interviews in a variety of ways and is hosting a series of workshops during the center's Career Week from Monday, Feb. 13, through Monday, Feb. 20, that focus on areas ranging from interview techniques, to resume writing, to wardrobe. There's even a workshop on dining etiquette.

After working with literally thousands of students, Munnerlyn said the one area with the most room for improvement is in expressing career goals.

"Students really need to be able to articulate their goals and explain how their background can support those goals," he said. "We've seen some people coming in saying, 'I'm a good conversationalist,' and coming out looking like a deer in the headlights. We'll do mock interviews with students to help prepare them for interviews. Seeing yourself on videotape really can make a difference."

Munnerlyn said students should be prepared for a variety of questions, not just the standard "strengths and weaknesses" and "where do you see yourself in five years?"

"There are some employers who throw questions out there like, 'how many gas stations are there in the United States?' Or 'Why are manhole covers round,'" Munnerlyn said. "The questions are designed to see if students give up too early and to look at analytical processes and logic. Good interviewers will throw a challenging question or two in there just to see how you'll handle it."

OSU hosts major career fairs in October and February - and will add another one in the spring. Many employers make offers to students early and some seniors and graduate students will have the luxury of going through June commencement with a job in hand.

Preparing for interviews is something that many seniors take seriously. Preparing for careers is something that should begin when students are freshmen, Munnerlyn emphasized.

"We tell students that we help them in 'building' resumes, instead of putting together resumes," he said. "When you come into Career Services as a freshman, you can learn about the importance of internships and work experience, about leadership and interpersonal skills. Then you can develop an academic path that helps you accomplish those goals."

Having a well-prepared class of graduates is one reason so many employers keep returning to Oregon State University, Munnerlyn pointed out.

"It takes a lot of work and we aggressively seek out companies that may have interest in our students," he said. "We also charge everyone on campus to work on employer relations. But nothing sells a company more than hiring from a university where they've had great success.

"That's why companies like Hewlett Packard, Jeld-Wen and others keep coming back to OSU, year after year," he added. "They know what they're getting."

More information on OSU Career Services and the career fairs is available online at http://oregonstate.edu/career/ or by calling 541-737-4085.