What is IR? Should I go?

Industrial Roundtable is Purdue's largest career fair and is geared toward all science, technology and engineering majors. The fair is the source for the majority of internship, co-op, and full time opportunities for Purdue students. 450 companies, including Amazon, Tesla, Meta, Virgin Galactic, P&G, Samsung, Bain & Company, and many others will be attending this year. The fair is a hybrid event, with both in-person and virtual interaction options. Freshman through Graduate students are encouraged to attend.

When and where is IR?

Industrial Roundtable will be held in-person at Memorial Mall on Tuesday, September 13th and Wednesday, September 14th from 8am to 4pm. Industrial Roundtable will be held virtually on Career Fair Plus on Thursday, September 15th from 10am to 4pm. The map for the in-person fair as well as the full list of companies attending is also available on the Career Fair Plus website and mobile app.  

How do I attend?

At the in-person fair, you may walk up to the companies of your choosing and speak with their representatives. Many larger companies have opted to take appointments on Career Fair Plus for students to "Skip the Line" if you meet their requirements. Lines are often hours long for larger companies - I encourage you to use this feature if you qualify to guarantee face-time with the company of your choosing. At the virtual fair, you must schedule an appointment on Career Fair Plus to speak with companies. 

How do I use Career Fair Plus to schedule appointments / Skip the Line / view the map?

To schedule appointments, you must create a Career Fair Plus account using your Purdue email. If you do not use your Purdue email, you will not be able to schedule appointments for the fair. From the app, you will be able to see the companies in attendance for the in-person and virtual fair (and sort by majors recruited, GPA requirement, Visa status, etc.). Here’s the link to make a student account. If you have never used Career Fair Plus or want a quick refresher, here’s a link to a video walkthrough. The window to schedule appointments opens September 1st at 7am. You are initially limited to 4 appointments for the in-person fair and 4 for the virtual fair. This limit is lifted September 8th at 5pm.

What do I need to bring / wear / prepare?

Come prepared with copies of your resume and a well prepared elevator pitch. Dress in business casual attire (polo/blouse and slacks or equivalent). Companies have been informed that students are highly discouraged from wearing business professional attire due to high risk of heat stroke. Business professional attire is highly discouraged. Please bring water and be extremely mindful of heatstroke.

Please refer to the Career Fair Guidebook and the IR student center for additional information and answers to any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing you in September!