Students
LAS Admission
LAS Student Handbook
- Majors & Minors
- Degree Requirements
- Course Guidelines
- Academic Standing
- Attendance & Withdrawals
- Graduation
- Dates & Deadlines
- Advising & Support
Educational Enrichment
Careers and Extracurricular Development
Student Activities and Forms
LAS Career Exploration Night FAQ
Why should I attend LAS Career Exploration Night?
LAS Career Exploration Night is a great chance to meet and talk with knowledgeable alumni who can help you choose your major and explore career options. They can also advise you on tracking down internships, selecting the types of courses that are useful for your career, and finding the right job.
LAS Career Exploration Night is not a career fair, and our featured alumni are not trying to recruit or hire students, so there is no pressure to impress them. It's a laid-back, no-stress event.
If I've been to LAS Career Exploration Night before, why should I go again?
We have new alumni participating each year. So even if you have joined us for past LAS Career Exploration Nights, come again to meet more alums and explore more options.
What attire is appropriate?
Business casual attire is acceptable. For this event, you can leave your business professional dress at home, along with your resume. Of course, you will want to demonstrate a professional demeanor, but remember to have fun!
How do I prepare?
To help you save time and stay focused, jot down your questions in advance.
What are examples of questions I might ask the alumni?
- How did your LAS degree help you get your first job?
- How did your LAS degree help you develop and advance in your career?
- How did you choose your major or figure out what you wanted to do after graduation?
- Did you have more than one academic major or concentration when you were a student?
- What LAS courses gave you specific knowledge, perspective, or skills that you use in your career?
- What experiences outside of the classroom have made a difference in your working life?
- What was your favorite part of being a U of I student?
- How important or necessary are internship experiences?
- Did you need a graduate degree to reach your career goal?
- Did you have a mentor when you were a student? Where can I find one?
- When should I start applying for internships/jobs/graduate school?
- What advice do you have for me as a freshman/sophomore/junior/senior?
What are some tips for networking at the event?
Greet and leave each alumnus with a firm (but not too firm) handshake, be an attentive listener, and be polite throughout your conversation. If you meet someone who was especially helpful, ask for his or her card so you can follow up with a thank-you note. This helps to cement a future contact. If a question arises later, knowing that an alumnus is just an email, letter, or phone call away could prove invaluable.
What other contacts can I make, in addition to the alumni?
The University of Illinois Career Center, which helps with resume-writing and job interviews, will have representatives available to explain their extensive array of student career services. In addition, both the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Association and the University of Illinois Alumni Association will have showcase tables.
If I already know my major, will LAS Career Exploration Night help?
Yes, you can chat with alumni who received a degree in the major you are pursuing and see what career their degree has taken them into. You can also find alumni who are working in a field you are interested in for a career. Speaking with them can open up a world of new ideas for your future and a vision of how you might achieve your goals.
What are the chances of finding an alumnus in my field?
We have more than 70 alumni encompassing a vast assortment of different majors and careers, so there is a good possibility of finding alumni who fit your interests and can help you with your anticipated career. Who knows—maybe you'll even discover a new field of interest.
If I'm a senior, what can I gain from LAS Career Exploration Night?
Alumni can offer great tips on landing that first job, when and where to start looking, job interviews, reference letters, graduate school, internships, relocation, long-term planning, how to make the most of your last months at U of I, and other senior matters.
Remember, this event comes around only once a year, so don't miss out!