The 26th annual Career and Internship Fair, known as WorkForce, was held on February 21, 2017 at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in Milwaukee. More than a month prior to the event, employer exhibitor registrations reached capacity at 188. Over a thousand students and recent graduates of Wisconsin’s private colleges attended, greatly exceeding estimates and surpassing turnout from recent years.

Over 1,000 students and recent graduates attended the fair.

The annual career fair is organized by the career services offices at Wisconsin’s 24 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. The career service offices are known as the Wisconsin Private Colleges Career Consortium (WIPCCC).

Career services professionals from WI’s 24 private, nonprofit colleges organize the annual event.

WorkForce provides an opportunity for employers to be introduced to the “best and brightest” and for job seekers to learn about exciting opportunities for internships and careers. Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities graduate about 14,000 students every year (about 24 percent of Wisconsin’s bachelor’s degrees and 37 percent of the advanced degrees), representing 30 percent of Wisconsin’s engineering degrees, 28 percent of business degrees, 40 percent of health profession degrees and 53 percent of (BSN) nursing degrees.

Job seekers were able to speak 1-to-1 with employers and receive feedback on their resumes.

WAICU career services offices support and guide students throughout their college years through extensive career planning and job search assistance. Dr. Rolf Wegenke, president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) commended the organizers for their leadership and hard work. “Connecting highly qualified talent with attractive employment opportunities is essential to the growth of our economy,” Dr. Wegenke explained. “While the purpose of a college education cannot be reduced to only getting a job, securing a relevant and fulfilling career in the workforce after graduation is one of the top priorities.”