Navigating the Career Fair

For most students, the career fair can be a daunting experience. Especially when you’re a freshman. But most of us are required to go for a class or we have to have an internship for the summer or maybe you’re a senior and you need to find a job. The career fair is a great opportunity for students here in the college of ag because it can help you receive internships that will help you determine what you want to do in the future or find out what you don’t want to do! Purdue offers multiple resources to help students with their career fair experience. There are interview workshops, places you can go that will give you dress clothes, and even resume building workshops. The College of Ag has a fall and spring career fair so there are multiple opportunities to go and talk to people. When talking to freshman, most of them are nervous to go to the career fair. But with the help of these resources, you can have the confidence to go talk to some of these businesses that seem intimidating. Because of the career fair, I have been able to receive internships for all three summers of my undergrad. I started as a field scout at Co-Alliance, then was a field biology researcher at BASF focusing on weed science, and this next summer I will be a plant breeding intern at Corteva. All of these experiences have helped me gain experience to help me thrive in my future as well as given me friendships that will last forever. So, even if you’re nervous, just go and talk to someone at the career fair and see what happens!