by Brooke Hall
Once again, employers will be lined up along Main Street in the Columbus Learning Center looking for students to hire. This year’s Internship & Career Fair is Nov. 8, 2023, 1-3 p.m.
“Employers are hiring, and they are asking for our students,” says Amy Kleinert, IU Columbus Associate Director of Career Services. “These events and our services can really help students get a foot in the door for internships, part-time employment or their first full-time, professional job.”
Firsthand experience
One of those students is Lucas Miller, an IU Columbus senior majoring in mechanical engineering. After making a connection at last year’s Internship & Career Fair, Miller was hired by Toyota to help fleet operations automate routine projects.
“The experience gave me a lot of programming experience and really developed my skills,” he said. “I came away much more confident in my ability to navigate a corporate business environment.”
Prepare now!
To help students prepare for the fair, Kleinert and her AirPark Campus colleagues are hosting a lunch-and-learn session on Nov. 2 at noon (free pizza, no registration required). Students will get help developing and practicing their “elevator pitch,” a quick conversation starter to introduce yourself to employers and make a good first impression.
Students are also encouraged to get their resumes ready and printed out in time for the fair.
For help on your resume, elevator pitch, interview practice, or other career services, IU Columbus students are always welcome to set up a one-on-one meeting with Amy Kleinert; email akleiner@iu.edu to make an appointment.
What to expect
At the Internship & Career Fair, the Airpark campus will host employers that appeal to all majors, including health care, education, engineering, business and liberal arts. For example, Toyota Materials Handling and CPA Agresta, Storms & O’Leary have already confirmed their attendance, and you can find a complete list of employers on the calendar event listing a week before the event.
Kleinert added that internships are a pipeline to full-time employment. Plus, even if you’re not seeking a job right now, connections at the fair can help expand students’ network, build references, focus your job search, and offer real-world practice in a supportive environment.
“We’ve had a lot of great connections between students and local employers during these events, as well as during individual employer visits,” Kleinert said.
More to come
This fall, in addition to the fair, look for visits from the Peace Corps, Zoeller Insurance, All-Phase Electric Supply, Johnson Controls, Development Services, American Senior Communities, and Indiana Assemblies.
Students are encouraged to keep an eye on the campus calendar for additional announcements about individual employer visits, which will continue throughout the school year.