Help is coming soon for students wanting to get a running start on their careers while they are still in school.

The office of Cooperative Education and Internships will be holding a Career Fair Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

“It’s an opportunity to get work experience by integrating classroom theory with practical experience,” said Casey Bozek, NIU business coordinator of the Cooperative Education Program.

The focus of the fair is to provide opportunities for NIU students to meet with recruiters for internships and co-op jobs.

Bozek emphasized that everyone is invited to attend if they meet the eligibility requirements. The prerequisites include being enrolled as a full-time student, completing 30 credit hours before the planned employment, and having a 2.0 minimum grade point average while meeting the GPA requirements of the major. A student also must be employable within the United States.

Bozek said that students obtain internships and co-ops for anytime during the year. However, most internships are acquired as summer employment, he said.

“Some of the benefits are practical experience, hands-on learning, and job experience,” Bozek said.

The Cooperative Program staff’s brochure outlines steps students can take to prepare for the fair. Students should dress professionally, treating this as a formal interview. They should also bring plenty of resumes, a reference sheet and a copy of their transcript.

Students should ask questions about the positions and companies. They also should ask for business cards and be prepared to write follow-up replies to each recruiter.

The staff also advises students not to be afraid of employers and to be assertive. They are there because they have positions to fill.

The department of Cooperative Education and Internships has been in existence at NIU since 1985. The department acts as a liaison between NIU students and outside businesses.

Bozek said last year the department placed 800 students in co-ops or internships. This year they are looking to double that number.

Some employers who participated last year were Amoco Corporation, Arthur Andersen Accountants, Allstate Insurance, First Chicago Bank, Hyatt Regency Hotels, and Neiman Marcus Stores, Bozek said.

The office of Cooperative Education is located in Rm. 232 of the Holmes Student Center. Any questions can be answered by calling 753-7138.

The office is also looking for volunteers to set up before the reception. “It’s an excellent way to meet the recruiters personally,” Bozek said.