State Farm career event succeeds on many levels.

When Florida International University (FIU) and State Farm recently strengthened their relationship with a plan for more activities between the university and the company, everyone involved was excited. And now, after the first of those activities, a career event in early February 2011, the enthusiasm has grown.

“Eighty-five people, 56 of them business students, attended an information session about career opportunities at State Farm, including 51 undergraduates, 12 graduate students and 21 alumni,” said Barry Shiflett, director, career management services (CMS) in FIU’s College of Business Administration.

One of those, International MBA student Allen Jackson, wanted to find out about opportunities at State Farm in finance, and he couldn’t have been happier with the entire experience.

sf-01 — Students were able to talk to State Farm recruiters from a number of the company’s businesses.

“When you think State Farm, you usually think insurance, but I’m interested in finance and I can definitely foresee pursuing a position at State Farm,” he said.

Part of the attraction went beyond the information he gathered.

“Generally I am nervous because I am a prospective candidate, even at an information session, but they were so welcoming that they took away my nervousness and made the session more comfortable for everyone,” he said. “That meant we were more at ease asking questions and we were more engaged.”

sf-02 — State Farm created an atmosphere that encouraged interaction.

Representatives from State Farm recruited in six different areas, such as creative services and systems/information technology. In addition, Laura Haas, assistant vice president, human resources; Cheryl Herrin, State Farm operations vice president; and Eddie Toro, enterprise recruiting manager, made presentations.

sf-05 — Cheryl Herrin, State Farm operations vice president, was one of the presenters.

Corporation’s visibility grows at FIU.

“An exceptional university partner, State Farm’s engagement with FIU is not only demonstrated by the generous support and involvement with the State Farm Financial Literacy Lab in the business school but also is evident in their vision for recruitment of FIU students university-wide and the outstanding support State Farm provides across the institution in mentorship, scholarship and leadership cultivation,” said Nicole Kaufman, FIU’s director, corporate and foundation relations.