Three upcoming career fairs hosted by Columbus State University will provide regional employers with opportunities to scout student talent for internships, part-time employment, and full-time career opportunities. They include:

• Tuesday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Student Recreation Center Multipurpose Room (Main Campus), spotlighting students studying in the Turner College of Business & Technology. Students will be prepared to meet with prospective employers seeking talent for roles in business administration, computer science, data analytics, economics, finance, management and organizational leadership.

• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Student Recreation Center Multipurpose Room (Main Campus), featuring students in the School of Policy, Justice & Public Safety. The career fair will connect employers with students preparing for careers in criminal justice, government and nonprofit leadership, public safety, and the legal field.

• Wednesday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Corn Center for the Visual Arts (RiverPark Campus), featuring students studying in the College of the Arts. Employers can visit and interview students for roles that benefit from expertise in art, audio technology, communication, dance, film production, music, and theatre.

“Our students offer employers the latest knowledge in their chosen areas of study,” explained Patrick Keebler, director of the university’s Center for Career Design, which is planning each of the career fairs. “These fairs are outstanding pipelines for employers wanting to deepen their bench with students benefiting from internships and soon-to-be and recent graduates pursuing careers in their chosen fields.”

Keebler stated that internships are invaluable to students seeking to gain experience while exploring career opportunities in their field of study. They are also key to the university’s commitment as part of its strategic plan to provide every Columbus State student with an experiential learning opportunity in their area of study by the time they graduate. The career fairs also underscore the university’s focus on aligning students’ career readiness with the region’s workforce needs, which includes dedicated, International Coaching Federation-certified career coaches helping students to achieve their career aspirations. 

Short-term micro-internships, oriented around a specific project, can span 10 to 40 hours before completion. These help students gain valuable experience applying classroom concepts to specific needs, while also allowing employers to engage early-career talent before making a long-term hiring decision. Traditional internships span the entire 15-week academic semester and usually entrust students with entry-level job responsibilities and experience.

Columbus State connects students with internship and employment opportunities through Handshake—a free service for students and employers. Through the platform, students can create professional profiles and receive job suggestions tailored to their interests, desired career fields, and preferred locations.

Employers can advertise jobs, search student resumes and connect with qualified students directly. More than 900,000 employers nationally—including 100% of the Fortune 500—engage with prospective student talent through Handshake.

There is no charge for employers for participating in any of the career fairs. The Center for Career Design will provide each booth with a clothed table and two chairs, as well as a complimentary lunch for up to two representatives.

For more information or to register, employers can email the Center for Career Design at [email protected] or create a free profile on the university’s Handshake platform.