BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — After a summer away from campus, many Illinois Wesleyan University students returned with something new on their resumes: practical work experience.
According to IWU’s Hart Career Center, more than 450 students completed internships during the 2024-25 school year, exploring careers in industries ranging from healthcare and finance to technology and product development. For many Titans, those opportunities are more than just temporary jobs, they serve as an entry into future careers.
The Career Center works closely with students to prepare for these opportunities by reviewing resumes and cover letters, practicing interviews, exploring career paths and connecting students with a strong network of Titan alumni.
“Internships often lead to full-time job offers before students even graduate,” said Patrick Zajac, associate director for career engagement at the Hart Career Center. “Employers want to see that students can apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to high level projects and add value to their organizations, and IWU students consistently demonstrate that they are prepared to contribute from day one. It’s exciting to witness these opportunities take shape.”
For Luiz Bossetto '26, a computer science major from São Paulo, Brazil, that opportunity came at GROWMARK, where he worked as a user interface and experience intern. Bossetto helped optimize financial dashboards for chief financial officers and controllers, work that required both technical skills and strong communication.
Bossetto said it was rewarding and motivating to be trusted with “real responsibility” to complete work on an impactful corporate project.
“I learned how important communication is…and working with people from all different departments, to gather as much feedback as possible and create the best version of a product you can,” said Bossetto. “That taught me how to translate different ideas from both technical and non-technical coworkers. On the technical side, I got hands-on experience with Tableau, which is a tool that is widely used in the industry to build data visualizations and useful user interfaces. I’m walking away with a solid mix of people skills and technical skills I can use anywhere in the future.”
Bossetto said the Career Center’s support was key to his success.
“They helped me with everything in the application process such as resumes, cover letters and networking with alumni,” he said. “They are a wonderful resource.”
His efforts paid off: Bossetto received an offer to continue working for GROWMARK this fall.
For Chloe Shapkauski ’26, a business major from Tinley Park, the summer meant an immersion into healthcare product management at Medline Industries in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. She assisted with sourcing, marketing and new product development.
“The experience was an amazing summer immersion into product management in the healthcare world, combined with the nostalgia of a summer camp,” Shapkauski said. “I was able to make connections with so many different people that were hard to leave at the end of the summer while working on impactful projects for my division.”
Shapkauski said she gained insight into the healthcare field, developed a sense of urgency in the workplace and strengthened her communication and collaboration skills.
She also praised the Career Center staff for their ongoing guidance — a campus office that she said has “immense heart.”
“Practice interviews with (Advisor) Ann Harding, career discussions with Patrick Zajac and (Director) Warren Kistner, and connections with alumni referred to me by the Career Center have all aided me in my career search. There is constant support through that office, with unprecedented follow ups from staff who genuinely care about your progress,” said Shapkauski.
Valeria Rivera ’27, a double major in business and psychology, completed a virtual internship with Sapere Aude, a program for first-generation students to gain exposure to competitive investment careers. IWU Board of Trustees Member Tom Lawrence '80 connected the Hart Career Center with the Sapere Aude program a few years ago.
Rivera began with training to learn about the finance industry before contributing to research, writing and peer feedback. Rivera also worked with her team on an opinion snapshot project analyzing the future of financial advising.
“My experience was one of a kind, and I feel really grateful,” Rivera said. “I had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals, receive one-on-one mentorship and work on a team to develop an opinion snapshot on financial advising and the evolution of the business model. In addition, Sapere Aude supported me in earning my CFA Investment Foundations certificate.”
Rivera credited the Career Center for helping her discover and fund the opportunity.
“Patrick Zajac encouraged me to apply and helped me find funding for my experience through the IWU F1RST Fund,” she said. “And he attended my capstone day to see my team’s presentation.”
Whether on site in Chicago or virtually with international firms, Illinois Wesleyan students are proving that internships aren’t just a way to fill the summer, they open doors and build connections.
“As students returned to campus this fall, they are bringing not only valuable professional experience but also clarity about the career paths they want to pursue,” Zajac said. “That’s the ultimate goal of an internship — building confidence, skills and connections that will last a lifetime.”
The Career Center is hosting several job and internship fairs on campus this fall, with employers on site from nursing and finance fields and many more. Learn more here. The next event is for all majors at the annual Fall Internship & Job Fair on Monday, Sept. 29 from 4-7 p.m. in the Shirk Center.