Revamped internships website at UW-River Falls boosts connections with local and regional businesses

August 31, 2016--With the Fall Career Fair at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls set for Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Riverview Ballroom of the University Center, Career Services has taken further steps to make it even easier for students and employers to find one another through a newly redesigned internships website.

Easy to use with a portal for students looking for internships and one for employers looking for interns, the newly revamped website at https://www.uwrf.edu/CareerServices/Internships.cfm is designed to swiftly connect even more students with opportunities across the city, region, and the state.

"The importance of internships is two-fold," said Melissa Wilson, director of Career Services at UW-River Falls. "The internship experience provides the student with an opportunity to connect classroom learning within a professional setting and gives the employer a chance to develop their future talent pool."

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), many interns are hired full-time with a company upon completion of [an internship] experience. NACE lists the typical conversion rate from intern to hire at 51.7 percent. Read more employer survey results at http://www.naceweb.org/internships/benchmarks.aspx

While students can easily connect on-line with employers, they will also have an opportunity to meet face-to-face during a Career Fair held each semester. The fairs at UW-River Falls host more than 100 employers who speak with students about their future endeavors.

"We strived to reach out to numerous companies in varied industries, to make this Career Fair more appealing to students in all colleges at UWRF," said Career Fair Coordinator Tia Fuhr.

Additionally Career Services has maintained its partnership with Career Fair Plus to continue offering the free interactive app that allows students to research attending companies, sort organizations by major, and learn tips on how to leave a lasting impression on recruiters.

Employers expect students to be confident and know about their company beforehand. By researching companies prior to the fair, students are more prepared and generate stronger conversations with employers, according to Fuhr.

For more information about the new internships website, the Career Fair, or attending businesses and possible partnership opportunities, call UW-River Falls Career Services at 715-425-3572.