Career Services and Career XPO

Career Services and Career XPO

Spring 2025 Career XPO: Thursday, February 13, 2025, Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign IL

Employer Information

The Illinois School of Architecture has become a place that welcomes many students from around the world, making our student body one of the most diverse groups of graduates every year. Our Graduate Student body often hits above 70% of international students who come to the Illinois School of Architecture to pursue a Professional Master of Architecture Degree. They come with a solid background in professional practice, design, and project management, to name a few.

All of our Graduate Programs are STEM-designated. This allows international graduates the ability to work in the United States for up to 3 years under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program without the need for work visa sponsorship. As an employer, you can hire our international graduates with no visa needs right away. After three years of full-time work, they will require a visa to continue to work in the United States. This visa requires employer support.

We understand that not every firm is able to support student visa sponsorship immediately. Nonetheless, every firm will be able to hire one of our students upon graduation.  We hope your firm will consider this.

We recommend that you carefully read the registration information located in the downloadable PDF at the bottom of this page. This will be posted by 12/1/2024.

Exhibit Space Information

• Your firm will have a 6’ x 3’ table available for your display. We will make every attempt to honor your pin-up and electrical requests.
• If you plan to bring a display larger than this space, please let us know.
• Pin-up is limited, so you may want to consider bringing alternatives such as tripods.
• You should NOT leave valuables unattended at your booth or in the building.

Equipment Provided

• Each company receives one 6’x3’ table and two chairs per table, plus an electrical outlet at each table.
• Wireless Internet is provided at the Hilton Garden Inn.
• On Professional Interview Day, participating firms will be assigned an individual interview space at Temple Hoyne Buell Hall, which will have a table and chairs. Students will come at their scheduled interview times.

Cancellations

Please be aware that the latest possible date to notify us of a cancellation and receive a full refund is January 14, 2025. If we are notified after this date, payment will not be refunded.

Hotel Information

Hilton Garden Inn, 1501 S Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820; 217-352-9970

Book your room by clicking here.

A proliferation of activities in Urbana-Champaign is producing a high demand for hotel rooms.  You are encouraged to book your room(s) early.

Travel Information

FLYING

Local airport is Willard Airport (CMI). It is approximately a 10 minute drive to the Hilton Garden Inn, or your hotel. Shuttle service is available from your hotel. Please phone the hotel directly ahead of time to reserve your seat.

DRIVING

If driving to Champaign-Urbana, find directions at: https://parking.illinois.edu/maps/directions-campus. A map and legend of the Illinois campus may be found at that site.

PARKING

Parking is available at the Hilton Garden Inn. The Illinois School of Architecture and the Career XPO are not responsible for tickets or towed vehicles.

Shipping Guidelines

In the event you choose to ship your display materials, please use the following address.  We ask that you please arrange for shipping to arrive no earlier than Monday, February 10, 2025. Please clearly mark in bold red type all items with your company name, the dates(s) you will be attending, and ‘CAREER XPO 2025.’ All items should be addressed as follows:

Illinois School of Architecture Career XPO 2025, <Your Firm Name>, <Date(s) you are attending>, Hilton Garden Inn

(For multiple shipped pieces, number them appropriates, i.e. ‘FIRM NAME, 1 OF 3; 2 OF 3, and so on)

All inquiries regarding shipments should be made through your carrier service.  The I Hotel cannot verify shipments. For return shipments, please pack all items securely and label clearly with the carrier’s shipping bill.  Be sure to include your company’s account number and attach your prepaid return shipping form.

Conference Fees

• Career XPO 2025 – Thursday, February 13 – $450
• Professional Interviews – Friday, February 14
  • No extra cost!
• Special Rates:
  • Career XPO 2025 “Early Bird Special” – $400
    • Includes the Professional Interviews
    • “Early Bird Special” ends January 13, 2025

Further YOUR Career!

Grad students, seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen: Career XPO is for you!

Students are able to interview firms—to ask questions about architecture and the future they envision. For juniors, seniors, and graduate students, this is a great opportunity to meet and interview the representatives— many of whom are the decision-makers for hiring. You will also want to sell yourself to them. For freshman and sophomores, this is an exceptional time to find out more about architecture from practitioners, laying the groundwork for future employment.

International Students

All employers participating in the Career XPO will interview and hire students. Over the last few years, we have had a 100% hiring rate.  As a graduate student in the STEM-designated M.Arch program, you are eligible to work for any employer under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Under OPT, you do not need a work visa sponsorship for 3 years. After this period, you will need to seek work visa sponsorship. Working under OPT will provide you with three years of experience in the United States and will promote you as a better candidate and employee with the potential to facilitate a visa sponsorship.