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.
Fall Internship Fair
The Fall Internship Fair will be held on Wednesday, September 18, inside the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center. Redbirds connect with employers from a variety of organizations to learn about their organizations and their internship opportunities.
Fall Career Fair
The Fall Career Fair will be held on Thursday, October 3, inside the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center. During the fair, students and alumni connect with employers who are seeking candidates for their full-time positions.
“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.”
Industry fairs
Career Services also partners with academic departments to provide fairs for specific industries or areas of interest. Industry-based fairs this fall include:
- Accounting Career Fair: Friday, September 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Health and Wellness Career Fair: Tuesday, October 10, 2-5 p.m.
- Education Career Fair: Tuesday, November 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Social Impact Career Fair: Wednesday, November 20, 2-5 p.m.
Fair preparation
To help Redbirds prepare for the fairs, Career Services is hosting Navigating Career Fairs (formerly known as “InstaCareer”) on September 30 in the Bone Student Center. Employers from a variety of industries attend 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.
Additional tips to help Redbirds prepare for the career fairs include:
- Checking 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.
- Constructing an effective resume and connecting with Career Services during drop-in hours for feedback.
- Connecting 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 fall career fairs to jumpstart your career goals and achieve career success!
