Graduation season is exciting—a milestone that kicks off a new chapter. But what if you don’t know what comes next?

While your friends post their offer letters on LinkedIn, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. If you don’t have a job lined up when you cross the graduation stage, that’s OK. Everyone’s path looks different, and not having a job at graduation doesn’t mean you won’t find success.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you navigate this transition:

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register for the Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 21, at the Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

In addition to the Expo, registered employers are invited to participate in a pre-Expo networking event called the C2C (College to Career) Exchange, which will give them the opportunity to connect with faculty and staff before the Expo begins.

UIS is a member of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. RISE Springfield, the young professionals program from the chamber, is planning a Leadership Conference for April 29, 2025 at the Memorial Learning Center. Please consider sharing your knowledge/experience with young professionals within the greater Springfield area. Proposals are due November 11, 2024.

As we head into the new school year and new season, you may be reviewing your closet and making some changes. If you have professional items in excellent condition, please consider donating them to the UIS Professional Clothing Closet for student use. We have limited space and can take a few additional items at this time.

Greetings! 

We are pleased to announce that the 2024-2025 UIS Leadership Lived Experience (LLE) application is now available. The LLE program was launched in December 2013 with the purpose of improving undergraduate student retention by increasing employment opportunities on campus and providing professional development experiences. This year, the Leadership Lived Experience program is supported through the collective efforts of Student Employment, the Career Development Center and the Office of Engaged Learning.

As you navigate through job listings and interviews, stay open-minded and flexible, consider seeking out networking opportunities to help you land the right job and look for ways to continue building your skillset. Embrace rejection as part of the process and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.