College graduation time is approaching and it is time to be serious about finding a job. Eleven area colleges and universities will take part in the Third Annual Indiana Careers Consortium Job and Internship Fair on Friday, March 23, at Indiana University South Bend. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Activities Center.

More than 100 businesses have reserved space at the fair in hopes of finding new employees and interns.

Students from all the colleges and all levels of job seekers are invited to attend. No pre-registration is required. The fair is free.

The colleges and universities that are joining forces are IU South Bend, Ivy Tech Community College – North Central, the University of Notre Dame, Bethel College, Saint Mary’s College, Holy Cross College, Goshen College, Valparaiso University, Ancilla College, Tri-State University and Purdue University North Central.

The consortium development was one of the results of the Lilly Endowment Inc., which awarded nearly $40 million to 37 Indiana colleges and universities. The higher education institutions were instructed to collaborate and to create internships and jobs for Indiana students.

The consortium also works with businesses to build internship programs, educate employers on the importance of internships and create a speakers bureau. The ultimate goal is to keep college graduates in Indiana.

The event is sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, AM General and Fiserv.

For details visit http://www.iusb.edu/~iusbjf/ or call career services at IU South Bend at (574) 520-4425.