UH Hilo Job and Internship Fair Starts Oct. 21

Internships may soon be the new “Ivy league.”

That’s the impression one gets after chatting with the head of the University of Hawai`i at Hilo’s Office of Applied Learning, Tom DeWitt.

According to DeWitt, recent national surveys have shown that recruiters are increasingly focusing on whether (and where) college graduates have completed internships, as opposed to their school of choice or their GPA.

To help students take advantage of that trend, UH Hilo has held a number of job and internship fairs in recent years.

This year’s fall job and internship fair will take place on the school’s library lanai on Oct. 21 kicking off with a 10 a.m. “meet and greet,” followed by a more formal event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The quality of the companies attending the fair is, according to DeWitt, “The best we’ve had.”

In all, more than 45 employers will be on hand to meet with students about either paid positions or internships.

Companies with representatives in attendance include Target Corporation, Panda Restaurant Group, the County of Hawai`i, the Fairmont Orchid, Hilo Brokers, and many other businesses and agencies.

Students attending must have a valid student ID, a typed resume, and be dressed in business attire.

For a partial list of employers attending the event or for more information, visit the Office of Applied Learning Experiences website.