The hustle and bustle of Redbirds flocking to campus will soon fill the air. To help them soar this semester, the Career Center is pleased to host its annual Part-time Job Fair on August 29. Held in the Bone Student Center, the event allows students to meet local employers seeking to hire them for part-time positions. Although part-time jobs may help many students financially, part-time employment can make a much larger impact than just making money.

According to Mike Minton, Career Center associate director, part-time jobs are practical experiences that provide many benefits to students. “First, as students participate in part-time jobs, they learn the value of work and its impact on their well-being and the economy. Second, part-time employment helps them to develop important transferable skills that employers seek when hiring for full-time positions. These may include teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. Third, part-time work allows students opportunities to explore their interests. This can provide them with personal insight on their strengths and areas for development so they can use that information to help them identify careers that they may be a good fit for them.”

Students seeking part-time employment will meet employers from local retailers, restaurants, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations. Students will need to bring their Redbird identification card and any other information they may need to complete a job application, such as a list of previous employers and their contact information, and their class schedule. Even though this fair is for part-time jobs, students are still encouraged to dress business casual as interviews may be conducted on the spot.

Employer registration

Employers from the Bloomington-Normal community can participate in the fair free of charge, but registration is required in advance on the Part-time Job Fair webpage. Employers should also bring any supplies needed such as a tablecloth, job applications, writing utensils, etc.

With over 20,000 students enrolled at Illinois State, the Career Center is proud to provide the Part-time Job Fair, just one of many job and career fairs held each year as part of the University’s commitment to its strategic plan Educate, Connect, Elevate: Illinois State – The Strategic Plan for Illinois’ First Public University 2018-2023.