Employers - Office of Professional Practice - Purdue University

The Office of Professional Practice (OPP) at Purdue University serves as a vital link between the academic community and the professional world. Established with a commitment to fostering experiential learning, OPP provides employers with a unique opportunity to engage with talented Purdue students while simultaneously offering students valuable hands-on experience in their chosen fields.

• Access to top talent: Purdue University is renowned for its exceptional academic programs, producing a pool of talented and motivated students. Employers can tap into this rich talent pool by partnering with OPP for recruitment opportunities. Gateway offers a unique connection for students who are seeking opportunities aligned with their academic program or industry-focused experiences. Students have access to a variety of co-ops, internships, workshops, service-learning projects and research opportunities. OPP engages with 500-plus employers across various disciplines within the university.
• Customized recruitment strategies: OPP works closely with employers to understand specific needs and tailors recruitment strategies accordingly. This personalized approach ensures that employers find the most suitable candidates for positions. In addition, OPP offers a Corporate Sponsorship Program to create the most impactful experience for employers.
• Cost-effective hiring: Partnering with OPP provides employers with an economical approach to hiring interns or co-op students. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows companies to assess potential long-term employees before making permanent hiring decisions.
• Enhanced brand visibility: Collaborating with Purdue University through the OPP enhances an employer's brand visibility and reputation among students and the academic community. In addition to flexible co-op opportunities, Gateway is the destination for employers to showcase opportunities for all class levels across multiple majors. Student logins since 2022 have grown over 200% as programming has been designed to transform the traditional job board platform and allow for student discovery of specific professional development events, employer engagement functions and industry-knowledge skills courses.
• Long-term talent pipeline: Building a relationship OPP can establish a steady pipeline of skilled professionals for future recruitment needs, strengthening the employer's workforce over time.

Co-op/Internship Opportunities Days Career Fair (Spring 2027): The Office of Professional Practice is thrilled to invite companies to the biggest event of the year with OPP's proudest partners, Co-op/Internship Opportunities Days Career Fair. The event is in person in January at the Purdue Memorial Union in West Lafayette and at Purdue University in Indianapolis. We are creating a culture at Purdue where co-op is special, and that is only possible thanks to top-tier employer partners. Want to know more? Contact Barb Albrecht.