The annual Fall Seminole County Internship Expo, held Wednesday, Oct.  28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Orlando Marriott of Lake Mary, features over 50 employers offering occupational experience related to accounting, construction and engineering among others. The employers are local and particularly interested in juniors and seniors.

Working learning partners for the fall, or companies cooperating with Seminole County Public Schools, range from Kobe Japanese Steakhouse to Pet Rescue by Judy. Of each company present, a number will be offering unpaid internship.

“Experience, resume building, and applying academics in the real world are some perks to internship, whether paid or unpaid,” Kristina Vliek said, an ePathways Facilitator, who is attending the event for the first time this fall.

Companies hope to have interns working an average of 10 hours per week this fall. Students who complete 120 hours and associated online activities are granted credit with their internship.

“I’ve thought about possibly attending and interning so I could experience how the working field I enjoy is like” said senior Samantha Lopez.

Students are encouraged to dress for the occasion and bring a resume. Furthermore, Seminole County’s ePathways site, which includes a detailed article on the Fall Expo, states that reliable transportation is mandatory for aspiring interns.

“My advice to someone attending the Expo for the first time would be to plan who you want to see and read a little bit about the employer as well,” Vliek said.

Vliek said that in addition to the available internships for upper-classmen, there would also be “job shadows” and other opportunities for their lower class counterparts to gain experience in the work force.

In the days leading up to the expo, ePathways Seminole County will be posting recollections from past interns and other Expo-related news at their Twitter and Facebook pages.