There are a few better ways to gain professional experience, build your resume, and explore careers than through an internship. The Career Center at Illinois State University is hosting the Fall Internship Fair for students from 4–7 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, in the Bone Student Center to help students to do just that.

The Fall Internship Fair connects students from all majors seeking internships or professional practice experiences. Recruiters from a number of industries, including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, local businesses, hospitals, and government agencies are attending.

“Internships are professionally supervised work or service experiences that showcase what a student has learned in the classroom by putting it into practice,” said Career Center Internship Manager Debbie Ungson-Walbert. “Most employers are seeking candidates who have gained some experience, and internships are a great way to get it and show what you can do. In fact, many employers will use internships as a way to gain a firsthand look at prospective employees.”

Fair preparation

To help students prepare, the Career Center is hosting InstaCareer, a career preparation session, from 4–7 p.m. September 7 in the Bone Student Center. Participants will rotate through various stations to learn how to introduce themselves to employers, to make a good first impression, to dress appropriately, and to research and follow up with employers after career events. Students participate in the session to prepare for meeting and networking with employers.

Students can also get tips on how to prepare for the fair and how to develop a 30-second pitch, and view sample interview questions on the Fall Internship Fair website. They can also watch the Career Center’s career fair video. Those who prefer to get advice in person can make an appointment with their career advisor, or stop by the Career Center during drop-in hours for a quick resume review or interviewing tips. Late-night resume/LinkedIn reviews will also be conducted at Milner Library from 9 – 10:45 p.m. on September 11th, 12, and 13th.

All attendees should research the employers attending the fair. A list of registered employers are on the Illinois State University App, in the Career Center guide or on the Fall Internship Fair webpage.

Students attending the fairs need to bring their Redbird ID card and plenty of copies of their resume, and are encouraged to dress for an interview. Student can also order free business cards to distribute to employers and print out their resume on free resume paper through the Career Center.

For more information or special accommodations, contact the Career Center.