Career Services

Welcome to the LER Career Services Office

While working to finish an MBA, I started to see that the real way to springboard me into a career as an HR professional was not the MBA, but rather to pursue a master’s degree in the LER program. Not only could I take a deeper and more intensive dive into HR theory, but I knew that the LER career services team was more plugged into HR job opportunities with the most successful and progressive companies in the US. Once in the LER program, I loved the education I received, and was quickly propelled into a career with Microsoft, where in the first months I am already seeing that great value has been placed on my education by my colleagues. As a result, I have the opportunity to be involved in key projects with company leaders – projects that will significantly impact the role and direction of Microsoft HR in the future. I believe strongly that making the decision to pursue the LER degree was one of the best career decisions I’ve ever made, and would recommend it to anybody that is serious about a career as an HR professional.

- Reese B. Reynolds, MHRIR '02, HR Generalist, Microsoft Corporation

The interviewing and recruiting services provided by the LER Career Services Office are for the benefit of currently enrolled LER students. Our goal is to provide students with comprehensive career advice, strategies, and access to placement; to provide employers with easy access to some of the most top-quality HR students in the country; and to provide alumni continuing contact with an up-to-date job listing service. We want to work with you to match each student's unique portfolio of skills to the needs of each potential employer.

This site is divided into the following areas:

• Current Students - General information about the use of the Career Services Office, including policies and dates; information about the process of pre-selection, bidding, and interview scheduling via NACElink/Symplicity; and placement data.
• Employers - Information about the Career Services Office, LER students, LER courses, placement data and the use of NACElink/Symplicity through LER Career Services in recruiting LER students for internships and full-time employment.
• Alumni - online job listings and information, connections as mentors to current LER students as members of the Professional Network.

While the use of information provided on this site and through the online software is a critical resource, it is not meant to replace the one-on-one counseling offered by the LER Career Services Office. You may contact Assistant Dean Nell Madigan at nellm@illinois.edu to set up an appointment to discuss your personal interests and job search strategies.

International students should note that employment opportunities in the United States are restricted by strict immigration laws. As a result, an increasing number of U.S. companies are unable to hire candidates other than U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Some international students are ultimately successful in obtaining internships and full-time employment with U.S. companies, but many are not.