March 11, 2014: ACSI hosts Mandarin-Speaking Internship & Career Fair

The America China Society of Indiana (ACSI), the Purdue University Center for Career Opportunities (CCO), and the Purdue Chinese Students and Scholars Association (PUCCSA) hosted the Mandarin/English-speaking Career Fair for students on March 11th at the Frances Cordova Recreational Center on Purdue’s campus.

The unique event, which featured 24 companies including Sears Holding Company, BKD, Apple, the International Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, brought out more than 500 undergraduate and graduate looking for internships and full-time positions in both Indiana and China. Hosted in Indianapolis the previous two years, the event is the state’s only such career fair designed for Chinese students.

“We see education as an important pillar in developing a China-friendly Indiana,” said Colin Renk, executive director of ACSI. “Through our blossoming partnership with Purdue, we’ve been able to add a tremendous amount of value to both students and businesses throughout the state.”

On the evening of March 10th,  several employers participated in a networking program designed to help students develop interview and professional interaction techniques. Beginning with a series of instructional seminars, students then intermixed with employers and faculty members to test these techniques.

“We were thrilled with the high-quality of engagement that took place between our students from China and the employers that sought to recruit them,” said Tim Luzader, director of the CCO. “The success of this career fair reflected very positively on the collaborative efforts of Purdue’s career center, alumni association and student organizations with the American China Society of Indiana.”

“What impressed us most about the job fair was the students’ familiarity with both our organization and the ways to market themselves in a professional environment,” said Lei Wang, project manager of the International Center.