The Convocation Center was full of employers and eager students Wednesday at NIU’s annual internship fair.

Seventy-nine companies showed up to interview prospective employees, but each had the same thing to say about the importance of internships.

“You learn the basics in school, but things vary in the workplace,” said Kathy Baxa, an employer from Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center. Baxa works with juvenile delinquents and takes part in anything from attending counseling sessions with clients to filling out paperwork.

Her colleague, Amy Robinson, interned with the company before landing a job working with foster care cases. Robinson said she did a lot with the internship she wouldn’t have even thought of because the experience isn’t taught in the classroom.

“Without an internship, I wouldn’t have known what part of sociology I wanted to go into,” Robinson said.

Robinson wasn’t the only one who landed a job after interning. NIU alumnus Will Harris also got a job with the company he interned with.

“Internships are very important,” Harris said. “It can build a contract between a company and an intern.”

Now an employee of Menards’ management team, Harris said the internship has various projects so many different areas of expertise can be incorporated. Although there has always been a preconceived idea the fair benefits only certain majors, many employees agree networking is perhaps one of the biggest advantages for everyone.

“It is a good opportunity to get your foot in the door,” said Steve Bingham from Chicago Special Events Management. His company was looking for a graphic designer and warehouse manager, but any major could benefit because the multiple projects the company works on allow interns to network with other companies as well.

Julie Emberson did a project on Polynesian culture, proving her major in history wasn’t bound to the classroom. Emberson, who works for the Walt Disney World College Program, said there are many opportunities for all majors.