Career Connect (Online Job Board)

Career Connect, powered by GradLeaders, is exclusive for Benedictine students and alumni with opportunities ranging from full-time positions to part-time jobs and internships. Find information on career fairs, networking events and more in Career Connect. 

We provide job search assistance to Benedictine University students and alumni seeking full-time, part-time and internship positions. Benedictine is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Therefore, our students are referred without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age or national origin. We also expect employers to subscribe to this policy and will not provide referrals based on discriminating criteria.

Ready to connect? Employers can post positions after creating a registration, following the link below. Company profiles as well as posted positions will be reviewed and approved by Career Development.

• Click here for a Step-by-Step Guide for Employers
• Click here for Career Connect Employer registration

On-Campus Interviewing, Recruiting, & Presenting

On-Campus interviewing and recruiting allows employers to meet with a wide range of Benedictine students and alumni. There are several ways employers may connect with candidates:

• Prescreened interviews - Employers choose the candidates they would like to interview based on prior review of résumés. Four to six weeks advance notice are recommended in order for an interview date to be advertised.
• Information/recruiting tables - Employers are invited to converse with a large number of students and provide information about their organizations and opportunities.
• Employer Information Sessions - A guest employer presents during the lunch hour (common hour) to students about their available opportunities. Our department often co-sponsors information sessions with relevant clubs and organizations and holds them during their club meeting time.
• Coffee House Networking Events - A guest employer is featured and presents on their organization, internships and/or career opportunities, the application and interview process, and how candidates can make themselves competitive. These are typically offered in the evening so that alumni and non-traditional students may attend. In addition to the employer's presentation, time for networking is also included in the program.

To schedule an interview or recruiting session, please contact Melissa Mouhelis at mmouhelis@ben.edu or (630) 829-6040.

Job & Internship Fairs

Fall Internship & Career Fair

Our signature annual career fair on campus hosts about 50 employers seeking interns and full-time employees and is generally held in October.  For more information and for an invitation to this event, please contact Melissa Mouhelis, Associate Director, at (630) 829-6036 or mmouhelis@ben.edu.

CCCI CareerFest

CareerFest is a large-scale career fair produced by the College Career Consortium of Illinois (CCCI) of which Benedictine University is a member. Typically held in February, CareerFest sees a variety of employers, from non-profits to government to private sector companies, and recruits students and alumni from all CCCI participating institutions. For more information, see this link.

Internship Information

Stay up-to-date on federal laws regarding internships. View the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division's Fact Sheet on Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

An internship is a practical work experience that helps students bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work. It allows students an opportunity to apply the knowledge, theories and skills they have acquired throughout their Benedictine education, encourages them to develop professional skills in their chosen career field while providing valuable work experience needed in an economically competitive world. 

Internship Goals

• Improving the student’s understanding of the application and practicality of the theory and principals of his or her chosen discipline.
• Complementing the academic component of development through exposure to new topics in a non-classroom atmosphere.
• Exposing students to the realities of the employer-employee relationship and preparing for an effective post-graduation experience.
• Encourage the development and maturation of the student so as to achieve a more successful, rewarding and meaningful life.

Qualifications of Interns

All prospective interns have completed a significant amount of coursework and have the academic foundation needed to make a positive contribution to any company or organization. To qualify for participation in an internship program, all Benedictine students must:

• Be enrolled in the University with degree- or certificate- seeking status for the duration of the internship program.
• Meet the academic requirements set forth by the sponsoring academic department.
• Have completed 60 academic credit hours.

Internship Posting

Employers can participate in the Benedictine University Internship Program by posting internship opportunities on Career Connect.

Role of the Employer

As an internship supervisor, Benedictine University asks that the organization:

• Recognize the uniqueness of each student and provide appropriate supervised experiences.
• Ensure safe, healthy working conditions.
• Contribute to the completion of the Learning Contract, outlining the goals and objectives of the student’s internship experience.
• Provide feedback to the student regarding performance through the completion of a midterm and/or final evaluation process.
• Meet with the student and the internship coordinator if termination of the internship is necessary.

Obtaining Academic Credit

Students can choose to register and receive academic credit for their internship experience. Credit hours are awarded using the ratio of 1 semester credit hour per every 50 hours worked on site and may range from 2-6 semester credit hours with 6 semester credit hours being the maximum amount of internship credit that may be counted toward graduation requirements. To obtain academic credit, students are expected to:

• Keep a journal of the daily activities including reactions to what is being learned.
• Submit a final research report related to the internship experience.
• Evaluate the internship site, supervisor and experience as a whole.
• Be evaluated by the sponsor and the faculty internship coordinator.