DUBOIS – An Internship Fair was held at Penn State DuBois on Monday, giving students the opportunity to connect with area companies where they could gain real-world experience before they graduate.
A total of 21 businesses were represented at the fair, from a diverse list of industries, including everything from manufacturing to mental health services. The fair was held in the campus gymnasium and coordinated by the Penn State DuBois Office of Career Services.
“We do this so our students can get a leg up on the competition, and get relevant, real-world experience before they graduate. That experience really makes them more attractive to employers,” said Career Services Counselor Anna Akintunde. “They also have a chance to network with these employers, and practice their interview skills.”
The mission of the Office of Career Services at Penn State DuBois is to help students prepare for a career by assisting with job searches, internship opportunities, and helping students to sharpen their job search, as well as professional skills, in order to make them more career ready.
“I love that I have the opportunity to attend this and get a better understanding of what I can do when I graduate, or even before I graduate,” said Darcie Grenier, a Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) major. “This really gives me a better idea of what’s out there and what I can do.”
Fellow HDFS major Greg Myers agreed, and noted that the internship fair was eye opening. He said, “I want to get some experience in my field and explore what my degree has to offer. I found a lot of different opportunities here, and it makes it easy to see that there is a broad range of things I can do with my degree in an internship and in a career.”
According to Forbes, 60 percent of students who complete an internship will see that internship turn into a job offer. For those with no internship experience, only 36 percent receive those same job offers.