By Kat Townsend

Lindenwood University is consistently making great strides in providing opportunities that prepare students for success, including having a dedicated team in The Career Services Office. Career Services operates out of the Library and Academic Resources Center (LARC) and provides support for students as they learn how to transition the knowledge they have gained here at LU into a successful, enjoyable career. They provide students the access to many vital resources including examples of how to build resumes and write cover letters, interviewing preparation, internships, and career events. Each semester, Career Services holds their Career & Internship Fair. This fair gives students the opportunity to make important connections with potential employers and interact with others in a professional environment.

According to The Career Services Office’s website, all employers who take part in the event offer “full-time professional positions and/or paid internships.” For many students, finding the time to participate in an internship without compensation while also juggling their education and a job can become a serious hindrance. Many students need to participate in an internship to fulfill their degree requirements or to show potential employers that they have the necessary experience, but they do not have the time or funds to dedicate to a position that does not pay. Career Services provides a great leg-up for students by providing them with access to positions that will compensate them for their time.

This spring, the Career & Internship Fair was a little different than semesters of the past in order to accommodate the difficulties imposed by COVID-19. Usually, the fair is held in the LARC and any student passing through had the ability to pop in and meet with potential employers, but this semester, to keep everyone safe, The Career Services Office hosted their Career & Internship Fair virtually on February 25^th. Students were required to register to participate in the event through Handshake, a popular website used to connect job hunters and employers. After registration, students could view the list of employers that were participating and select which sessions they wished to attend. Sessions were held either as 30-minute for groups of students, or as one on one video conferences with company ambassadors. From February 22^nd-24^th, Career Services also hosted prep workshops for students to prepare themselves for the Career Fair.

Although for many people life has been complicated by a world made virtual, Lindenwood University has been working hard to ensure that students still get the opportunity to continue growing. Despite the hurdles, students were still able to make important connections this year at the Career & Internship Fair. As always, LU has gone above and beyond to advance students into the professional world.