Applying for jobs and internships in 2025 can feel a lot like online dating — crafting the perfect profile, guessing what attributes are sought after and sending messages into the void while hoping for a response. Digital hiring platforms are being flooded with candidates, and standing out as an undergraduate can be a challenge.
To help students cut through the noise, the Career Center is hosting its Spring 2025 Internship & Job Fair on Friday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Beauchamp. Almost 100 organizations, including nonprofits, government agencies and private sector companies, will be on-site to meet students face-to-face and discuss job and internship opportunities.
While the fair initially promoted the attendance of federal agencies like the FBI, federal layoffs have led organizations to withdraw, according to Amy Cavanaugh, director of the Career Education Center.
“We had two of 100 organizations cancel their registration for the fair, including the FBI and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,” Cavanaugh said in an email to The Beacon. “We were disappointed to have those cancellations.”
According to Cavanaugh, the Career Education Center is a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which is closely monitoring executive orders and communicating regular updates about how they impact workplaces and hiring.
Despite these recent changes, students can still prepare for success with other organizations by attending workshops on crafting introductions, resume building and follow-up strategies ahead of the fair. These workshops will be held on Feb. 19 and 20 in the Career Education Center located in Franz Hall 110.
According to the Career Center’s Engage page, these workshops are intended to help students navigate the fair with confidence.
Students interested in securing professional clothing are encouraged to stop by the Career Education Center’s clothing closet, hosted in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi), on Feb. 19 and 20 in the Career Education Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those interested in attending the fair can register here.
Julianna Pedone is the News and Managing Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at pedone25@up.edu.
