Purdue in Indianapolis Industry Fair anchors year-round employer engagement

INDIANAPOLIS — The Purdue in Indianapolis Industry Fair is helping redefine how students and employers connect, serving as the centerpiece of a growing network of continuous engagement opportunities designed to build relationships long before a job offer is on the table.

Held Sept. 29, the semiannual fair brought more than 700 students together with employers representing a broad range of industries for recruiting, networking and career exploration. Purdue University students in Indianapolis from the College of Engineering, College of Science, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Mitch Daniels School of Business, and College of Health and Human Sciences connected with organizations seeking interns and future employees.

Building Indiana’s talent pipeline has always been part of the goal of growing the university’s presence in Indianapolis. Students were able to connect with a variety of employers, with over 70% of attendees being Indiana-based companies. With expanded programs, industry partners were able to reach students from five different schools and colleges.

“The Purdue in Indianapolis Industry Fair creates opportunities for students and employers to build relationships that can lead to internships and full-time careers while laying the foundation for future engagement,” said Katie Nelson, senior manager of career services in Indianapolis. “In a world of work increasingly shaped by AI, the value of human connection has never been more important.”

“We’re seeing a shift from transactional recruiting interactions toward continuous engagement that helps employers build long-term talent pipelines,” Nelson said.

That continuous engagement allows for employers to connect with students throughout the year in information sessions, classroom visits, networking opportunities, panel discussions, projects and recruiting events. Together, these experiences create a sustainable constellation of interactions that benefit both students and industry partners. It’s an approach that also helps students gain an early understanding of potential career paths through repeated engagements rather than a single recruiting event.

The night before the fair, students were able to network at Early Access to Industry Night. There, employers introduced their organizations, discussed career opportunities and answered questions, helping the assembled students make personal connections and gain confidence before meeting recruiters again the next day.

Alex Ruppert, talent development consultant for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), said that early access night was beneficial for his team. “It was a great opportunity to get to meet students a little informally before the actual career fair,” he said. 

“At the early access event, I learned about what INDOT has to offer,” said Matthew Cannon, a senior studying motorsports engineering in Indianapolis. “Because I had this conversation, I walked into the industry fair already knowing who I was going to talk to, and it allowed me to bring more questions to them based on what I learned about their program the night before.”

Calling the early access event “very useful,” Cannon said it made him more comfortable asking questions at the fair. “It took the pressure off me,” he said.  

The emphasis on preparation and repeated engagement also contributes to positive outcomes for students, as employers consistently praised their professionalism and readiness, according to Nelson.

“They noted that students came to the fair prepared to engage professionally, and they asked thoughtful questions, had organized résumés and knew how to navigate a career fair environment,” she said.

Preparation, opportunity and direct employer connections reflect Purdue in Indianapolis’ commitment to helping students translate classroom learning into early career success while supporting Indiana’s future workforce needs.

Learn more: Center for Career Opportunities and Pre-Professional Advising in Indianapolis

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 111,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As a land-grant university committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free.