Nearly 60 employers to seek applicants at Thursday's annual summer internship fair

It's only the beginning of spring semester, but students are already thinking about summer internships. \nWhile most people don't want to spend their summers getting coffee and making copies, a little research and attending the 2007 Internship Fair can help them find worthwhile internships for this spring and summer, said Nichole Williams, assistant director of career services. \nThe Career Services internship fair, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in Alumni Hall at the Indiana Memorial Union, is "a perfect opportunity to find internships," Williams said. About 60 employers from companies including CBS, American Eagle Outfitters and Target will be present. \n"The internship fair is a time and a place where employers are coming to the students," Williams said. "It's rare that you'll have employers all in one place wanting to hire you."\nWhile some students may not be committed to doing an internship this spring or summer, Williams still encourages all students to attend, saying that 87 percent of college students complete an internship before they graduate. Employers offer jobs to more that 70 percent of their interns, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Web site.\nWilliams even encourages freshmen to attend the fair.\n"It doesn't hurt to make a contact now," she said. \nWilliams recommends that all students "dress to impress" and bring resumes if they have them. However, she stresses that students should research the companies they are interested in beforehand. Specifically, Williams said students should learn about the company and the positions available. She also said students should be prepared to ask questions.\nT. Kevin Ryan, a human resources director for Sherwin-Williams and a regular recruiter at IU, agreed. \n"Don't be afraid to ask questions," Ryan said. "Ask the company what kind of training will they provide." \nAt Sherwin-Williams, interns actually learn "everything from how to mix paint to how to deal with an irate customer, and by the end of our internship they learn selling skills and know about our business," he said. \nEven for those who don't decide to work for Sherwin-Williams after an internship, other companies are still impressed with the experience, Ryan said. \nBesides filling resumes, "internships are a great way to find out what you do want to do and what you don't want to do," Williams said. "It's a great way to test out careers."\nAfter a summer internship with the IU School of Medicine Public Relations Department, junior Katie Rogers said the experience was helpful because it ultimately steered her away from the career.\n"It wasn't what I thought it was," Rogers said. "I'm glad I learned that public relations wasn't for me right off the bat rather than realizing it after I had already graduated."\nRogers said she plans to attend the career fair Thursday in hopes of finding a new internship more geared to her new major.\nBesides attending the fair, Williams encourages students to stop by the Career Development Center and to keep their ears open. She said that while many jobs and great internships are still found "word-of-mouth," the Internship Fair features companies looking to recruit the "great students" IU has to offer.