Texas State Technical College is hoping to give its students a head start in the workforce.

The institution hosted its semi-annual Industry Career Day Event Thursday, bringing in 29 different companies and several colleges, to the campus' South Building. School officials had previously estimated that 25 companies had planned to visit.

CHARLES IYOHO/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

A Sitel representative talks with Texas State Technical College-Marshall students during Industry Career Day Thursday.

TSTC Placement Director Vanessa Davis said the school will host another event in the spring.

About 200 students attended the event that morning and more were expected to come later that day.

Business representatives began the day with a continental breakfast while setting up booths and displays. From 9 a.m. to noon, students visited individual booths.

As an extra incentive to bolster involvement, many of the businesses provided give-away items and door prizes. Guests also were treated to a catered lunch.

Ms. Davis said many of the visiting businesses were looking to hire students for employment at their companies and some offered internships and opportunities to participate in co-op programs.

In preparation for the event, school officials offered many of the students job interview and resume workshops. Ms. Davis said the school also provided training sessions for students, schooling them on proper business attire and etiquette. Officials at the school also visited a number of classes, conducting presentations.

"Career day is very significant, especially for our students, because we try our best to connect our students with industry before they leave our doors," said Ms. Davis. "It's very important for them to network with employers."

Ms. Davis said some of the college's sister schools had experienced some issues bringing in colleges and businesses for their fairs, in part due to the economy, but that TSTC-Marshall did not have those issues.