Employers Lean on Alumni at Job Expo

Former McCombs students share success stories and camaraderie with potential recruits

Students lined up behind booths with résumés in hand, ready to speak with some of Texas’ biggest employers at the Fall 2026 McCombs Career Expo.

Over 145 companies and 1,800 students participated in the Sept. 16 event, hosted by McCombs’ Career Management and Corporate Relations team. Manufacturers such as Caterpillar, large supermarket chains such as H-E-B, and energy-industry giants such as Shell showed up to scout for future hires.

And those three companies, in particular, have deep ties to the Forty Acres. Behind their busy booths were McCombs alumni who had once navigated the same crowded room, looking for a company to take a chance on them.

Caterpillar Inc.

Carolina Lopez, a students-and-graduates talent acquisition partner at Caterpillar, argues that one of the most effective ways to connect with students is to bring alumni back to campus to share their career journeys.

“Nothing connects with students better than authentic stories,” Lopez said. “When they hear directly from someone who once stood where they are, they can begin to see what their own career could look like.”

Caterpillar has built a strong recruiting partnership with McCombs. Many students have pursued internships there, and some have even completed additional internships or joined the company full time after graduation.

“We know McCombs students bring strong talent and preparation,” Lopez said. “Our goal is not only to recruit them, but to build relationships, help them understand the opportunities available at Caterpillar, and give them a genuine view of what a career here can become.”

H-E-B

The Texan supermarket titan H-E-B also sees a benefit to bringing alumni to recruitment events.

H-E-B staffer Alishan Badarpura, BBA ’20, finds it easy to relate to students at the expo because he was looking for work himself not too long ago. When he encounters students who seem nervous about the process, he reminds them how rich the job market truly is, he says, especially considering all the companies and recruiters looking to hire just at the expo. “Seeing all these companies really gives me some hope as to the attraction to young talent,” he said.

Shell

David Clark, BBA ’11, has regularly returned to the expo since 2012 to represent Shell. He, too, sympathizes with students starting their professional journey.

And Clark, a lead procurement manager, isn’t a professional recruiter. He’s one of several Shell employees from various departments attending the event to give students a richer picture of what it’s like to work for the company.

“It makes you want to make sure you give everyone your full effort because you know what it’s like to hunt for jobs,” he said. 

Story by Raul Flores