This year’s International Career Fair Information session was hosted by SMSU Career Services and the Center for International Education (CIE). The two organizers hosted this event, wanting the students to know how to get ready for the work world as well as to register and prepare for the upcoming career fair on Oct. 14.  

On Sept. 30, 2025, the event began with a small welcome message by the Director of International Student Services and Global Studies, Dr. May Lee, who welcomed us to this year’s event while thanking us for attending this event. After she invited Melissa Scholten, the Director of Career Services, and the main speaker for this event. 

Melissa taught us how to create an account on Handshake while also telling us what handshake is used for. Handshake is an employment system sponsored by SMSU career services that allows employers searching for SMSU students and Alumni to post their position. It also enables students to sign up for upcoming career fairs, search for jobs, and internships.

She then showed us the SMSU student career guide, a helpful resource handbook that has a step-by-step guide on things you should know or do to prepare for a job application. The topics we covered in this handbook were how to write a resume, what to include in a sample introduction when speaking with employers, and how to dress for a career fair or interview. 

After Melissa had finished her presentation, Dr. May Lee closed by showing us how to fill out Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) forms. These are work permissions that allow International Students to work off campus as long as it aligns with their major. CPT is for international students that are currently studying and OPT is for international students that have graduated.