Growing student demand, rising employer engagement drive strong career fair results
INDIANAPOLIS — The annual Engineering, Science and Tech Connect Career Fair offered Purdue students in Indianapolis access to work and experiential opportunities across Indiana’s expanding tech and innovation sectors. Nearly 500 students gathered to speak with representatives from 46 employers at the event, which was held on Feb. 17 at the Campus Center.
There were more than double the number of students from last year and a 32% increase in participating companies. Organizers attributed the growth to the collaboration between Purdue entities that are part of career readiness in Indianapolis: the Indianapolis Career Council, the Center for Career Opportunities and the Office of Professional Practice. Additionally, both students and employers clearly see the value in the event.
“It’s been wonderful to see the growth of the career fair,” said Yuliya Cormier, career services consultant in Indianapolis for the CCO and the fair’s main organizer. “Our employer partners were impressed with the caliber of students, and we look forward to continuing to connect students to the vast opportunities offered in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana.”
This year’s fair featured employers from industry-leading corporations as well as long-standing local partners. For the first time, a designated “startup row” highlighted eight Indiana-based startups participating through the Interns for Indiana program, with each recruiting students for summer 2026 internships. The addition reflects rising student interest in entrepreneurial and innovative environments.
With 75% of attending companies based in Indiana or hiring for Indiana locations, the event also underscored the state’s investment in building and retaining a high-skilled talent pool. Employers emphasized their need for students skilled in engineering, computing and the sciences — fields where Boilermakers play a vital role in fueling local economic growth.
For Indianapolis, the fair represents more than a recruiting event — it serves as an effective connection point between emerging Purdue talent and the companies shaping the state’s innovation landscape.