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IU McKinney students took part in a job fair in in the atrium at Inlow Hall on February 11. The fair has only grown over the years since its beginning in 2013, yet organizers determined that a bit of a reimagining was in order for the eighth event. Under the direction of Whittley Pike, '14, Senior Associate Director for the Office of Professional Development, the job fair is now called A.C.E. it!

The new direction fits into the Office of Professional Development's programming motto for the Spring 2020 semester: Networking Starts Now! A.C.E., or Advancing Career Exploration, is the result of student and employer input from previous events. Other changes implemented include a mock cocktail reception, during which students were given examples of on how to network and craft an elevator pitch; training specifically geared toward the A.C.E. it! event, teaching students about the logistics for the fair, how to prepare, and how to follow up; and a reception for all participants following the fair, among other offerings.

"Our overall goal with this year was to collaborate with our current Student Bar Association to bring an experience to students that would allow for opening doors and making meaningful connections for their own advance career exploration," Pike said. (She's in the photo at left.) "We know that the legal job market is based on relationships and wanted to allow a place to create and foster those relationships that turn into job offers."

Law firms large and small, based in Indianapolis and from the surrounding counties, took part in the event. Representatives from state and county government agencies also were participants, as well as not-for-profit agencies.

"I definitely consider this event a success!" Pike said. "It was wonderful to see our students so engaged with employers of various sizes, asking thoughtful questinos, and opening some important conversations for their own professional development."

"This year before the expo in the atrium, we started off with breakout sessions in classrooms. Students could pick which room to go to based on the practice area they were most interested in. I noticed that this step made students feel much more comfortable when they went to the expo to talk to employers," said 2L Bre Robinson. She's Vice President of the Student Bar Association and an organizer of the 2020 event. (Bre Robinson is in the photo at left with Barath Raman, '14, who was an organizer of the first job fair when he was an IU McKinney student.) "It was great to see my fellow classmates confidently networking and approaching employers like they deserve to be hired, because they do."