Career Services is hosting the following fairs this semester for students and alumni from all industries and areas of study to help them identify career opportunities and connect with employers.
- Spring Internship Fair, Tuesday, February 4, Bone Student Center—connects employers from all industries with candidates seeking internship positions.
- Spring Career Fair, Wednesday, February 19, Bone Student Center—connects employers from all industries seeking candidates for full-time positions.
- Education Career Fair, Tuesday, March 4, Horton Field House—connects school administrators, superintendents, and other employers from the field of education seeking student teachers and candidates in education and related fields for open positions.
- Part-time Job Fair, Thursday, March 20, Bone Student Center—connects employers with candidates seeking a part-time position on or near campus.
- Fine Arts Internship and Career Fair, Thursday, March 27, Bone Student Center—connects employers with candidates in art, creative technology, film, dance, music, and theatre seeking internships or full-time positions.
- Career Fair for International Students, Tuesday, April 8, virtual—connects employers able to hire candidates with temporary work authorization (OPT/CPT) and/or sponsor an H-1B visa with international students and alumni.
“Career fairs are important for Redbirds to attend. They allow them a chance to practice networking and provide them the ability to meet and learn about many organizations, all in one place,” said Natalie R. Alexander, Career Services associate director.
Recruiters from all industries, including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and others will be attending to recruit Illinois State talent for their open positions.
“These organizations not only represent a variety of industries, but they are looking for a variety of majors as well,” said Andee Radliff, Career Services assistant director. “We encourage Redbirds from all areas of interest to attend our career fairs to discuss options and opportunities, even with those employers who are not directly in their field. This allows them to explore careers and begin or expand their professional networks.”
Fair preparation
To help Redbirds prepare for the fairs, Career Services is hosting Navigating Career Fairs (formerly known as “InstaCareer”) on February 13 in the Bone Student Center. Employers from a variety of industries attend the event to provide practical tips about job searching to help Redbirds navigate the process with confidence and success. Participants rotate through various sessions on the basics of how to make a great first impression, research employers, incorporate skills and experiences into their pitch, and much more.
Here are additional tips to help Redbirds prepare for the career fairs:
- Check out the list of employers attending the fairs and select those you most want to meet. A list of organizations attending is available on the career fair websites and on Hire-A-Redbird. Be sure to visit their website to learn more about them and their open positions.
- Construct an effective resume and connect with Career Services during drop-in hours for feedback.
- Connect with your career advisor for assistance on how to describe yourself and answer other common employer questions.
Make a good first impression
To help students make a lasting impression, Career Services provides free business cards to distribute to employers when meeting them. Redbirds can also print their resumes on free resume paper available through Career Services in the Career Resource Hub in the Bone Student Center. While at the fairs, students can also get a free headshot photo taken. Students submit their email addresses and receive their photographs the same day so they can add it to their LinkedIn profiles.
Career Services’ mission is to empower and support Redbirds to achieve their professional goals by providing resources, experiences, and industry connections. Attend the spring career fairs to jumpstart your career goals and achieve career success!