Students attend Illinois State for an outstanding education. They also attend to college to prepare them for a job. That’s why the Career Center is proud to host its Fall Internship and Career Fair from 4–7 p.m. Tuesday, October 2. Students and alumni interested in obtaining an internship or full-time position are invited to Redbird Arena to connect with employers interested in recruiting them.
Over 160 organizations are registered to attend the fair, with more expected to sign-up. These employers represent a number of industries, including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, local businesses, hospitals, and government agencies.
“Because employers attending this fair are recruiting candidates for multiple types of positions, students from any major are encouraged to attend,” comments Career Center Assistant Director for Employer Relations Andee Radliff. “Students may think career fairs are only for those in business, but that is simply not true. Employers are seeking students from who can display valuable skills.”
The National Association of Colleges and Employers identify the top transferable skills employers seek in candidates.
Career Center Partners such as American Family Insurance, Caterpillar, Cintas, COUNTY Financial, Enterprise, Liberty Mutual, Sherwin-Williams, State-Farm, and Target are just a few of the companies that seek students from all majors.
In fact, the Fall Internship and Career Fair allows Redbirds to identify internship opportunities that can help them develop the essential skills employers seek. According to Career Center Internship Manager Debbie Ungson-Walbert, internships are essential to a student’s career development: “Most employers seek candidates who have gained some experience. Internships are an excellent way for students to develop their skills, apply what they learned in the classroom, and even explore possible careers.”
Fair Preparation
To help students prepare for the Fall Internship and Career Fair the Career Center provides résumé reviews and interview tips. Students can make an appointment with their career advisor, or by stop by the Career Center during drop-in hours for a helpful tips and advice.
The Career Center will also host Late-night Résumé Reviews from 8-10 p.m. on September 30 and October 1 on the third floor of Milner Library to assist students attending the Fall Internship and Career Fair. Résumé reviews provide students individualized, constructive feedback on their résumés from highly-trained career ambassadors, who are also their peers.
“Attendees should also review the list of employers attending our career fairs and research them before the event so they are familiar with the organizations, identify if they are a good fit, and to be able to answer employer questions effectively,” said Mike Minton, Career Center associate director for Student Relations. A complete list of employers attending the fairs and details about them are available on the Career Center website or through Hire-A-Redbird.
Additional fair planning tips
- If seeking an internship, consider why you want an internship.
- Construct a résumé. Then, visit the Career Center during drop-in hours or Late-night Résumé Reviews.
- Prepare for on-the-spot interviews. Visit InterviewStream to get interview questions listed by major and job industry, and practice your answers.
- Develop a 30 second summary of your professional skills, experience and interests. Then, identify your answers to common interview questions. A list of sample questions are available in the Career Resource Guide.
- Dress professionally. A business suit is recommended.
- Research the employers you plan on meeting so you can effectively answer the question, “what do you know about our organization?”
- Create a profile in Hire-A-Redbird: post your résumé, identify positions and to apply for them. If you already have your profile created, be sure your information is up-to-date.
Illinois State students attending the fair need to bring their Redbird ID card and plenty of copies of their résumé, and are encouraged to dress in professional attire. They can also order free business cards to distribute to employers and can print out their résumé on free paper at the Career Center.
Employers
It’s not too late to meet exciting talent from Illinois State University! The Fall Internship and Career Fair still has spots available for employers to attend. Registration is available through Hire-A-Redbird. As an added bonus, candidates from other local institutions may also be in attendance.
The Career Center supports Illinois State University’s Educate●Connect●Elevate strategic plan by assisting students with developing, evaluating and/or implementing career, education, and employment decisions.
