Posted 5 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2025
UWL’s first-ever 'Reverse Career Fair' flips the script on a traditional career fair format
UW–La Crosse hosted its inaugural Reverse Career Fair on Monday, May 5, offering a twist on the traditional career fair format.
Rather than navigating rows of employer booths, UWL students became the exhibitors, presenting posters of their academic work — primarily in biochemistry and other science-related disciplines — as representatives from regional industries circulated the room, asked questions, and explored opportunities for collaboration and recruitment.
The event provided an interactive platform for students to demonstrate not just what they’ve learned, but how they apply that knowledge to real-world problems — a key advantage for industries seeking talent with both technical skills and the ability to communicate complex ideas.
“It was fun to be able to showcase the project we’ve been working on for many weeks to potential employers,” said Brady Horstmann, a junior majoring in biochemistry and biomedical science. “It allowed us to explain in greater detail what we were able to accomplish, and to showcase our knowledge in a more interactive way.”
This model allows employers to see beyond a résumé, says Carolyn Moe, UWL Career Services advisor.
“Employers are able to engage more deeply with students by seeing how they communicate, problem solve and articulate their research — skills that are critical in today’s workforce.”
Horstmann echoed the value of these interactions, especially as he considers his next steps after graduation.
“This connection is very important,” he said. “Seeing how my work can connect to a wide variety of employers was really meaningful.”
The biochemistry students who participated were well-prepared to present their research, thanks to UWL courses such as Chemistry 417 and Chemistry 419: Advanced Biochemistry Lab. These classes teach students how to use modern lab techniques to explore biomolecular structure and function — and often challenge them to tackle problems with no clear solution.
“I really think the hands-on research experience has been very helpful in preparing for the real world,” Horstmann said. “There are few classes where you’re actively researching a problem that hasn’t necessarily been solved. We were often reminded that the answers aren’t known — and that’s why we’re doing the research.”