Internship and Recruitment Day

Spring Recruitment Options

Thur 2/20/25 - Toy Internship Career Fair (virtual) 8am-12pm contact Joyce Mesch
Tue 2/25/25 - Fashion Internship Fair (in person) 8am-3pm contact Mitra Rajabi
Thur 3/13/25 - Campus-wide Internship & Recruitment Day for ALL majors and disciplines. See details below and Register Here!

What is IRD?

Internship & Recruitment Day (IRD) is Otis College of Art and Design’s annual creative recruiting event hosted by the Office of Career Services, which takes place in March. Each spring, employers come to the Otis College campus by LAX to recruit students from all majors for their paid summer internships, freelance, part-time, and full-time opportunities. This signature event occurs only once a year, so don’t miss this opportunity to gain access to top creative talent. IRD is designed to assist you and your organization’s talent needs in various creative endeavors and industries. Each registered employer participant will have the opportunity to meet students individually to conduct interviews/portfolio reviews or take walk-ups at their table from any of the creative majors at the College.

What types of students can I expect to meet with at IRD?

Employers can expect to meet with students from all over the globe who study in Otis' art and design programs: Animation, Game and Entertainment Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Environmental Design (architecture/landscape/interiors or interiors + furniture), Fashion Design, Fine Arts (painting, photography, sculpture/new genres), Product Design, and Toy Design. Please review our programs on our website at: https://www.otis.edu/programs and on YouTube. Learn more about our internship guidelines or hiring international students at https://www.otis.edu/career-services/employers. While we expect you will meet a variety of talented individuals within the Otis Community, please keep in mind that this is also a learning experience for students and some may be meeting employers/organizations for the first time.

What information do I need to register for IRD?

To complete your registration, you will need to have:

A Handshake profile that is linked to Otis
Type of opportunities you're seeking talent for
Class years of students you're interested in meeting
How you would like to participate (1:1 interviews or open table)
Name & email of reps who want 1:1 interview schedules (indicate if any are Otis alumnx)
Primary & additional disciplines you have opportunities for (read more about our majors and minors here)

How do I register for IRD?

Invitations are sent out through our career platform Handshake. Create an account now to be sure and receive an invitation. Once you have an account, login on Handshake, then navigate to the Otis Internship & Recruitment Day event.

Overview of Registration Process

Register in Handshake. Organizations that register by 1/31/25 will have the best opportunity to be seen by students signing up for interviews. Please note: we reserve the right to decline or cancel registrations for organizations that do not align with the mission and DEIB values of the Otis community.
Pay in Handshake by the specified deadline to lock in your registration rate. If you miss the payment deadline you will pay a higher rate. You can always add representatives for an additional fee (or cancel with a refund) until 3/6/25.
Post internships/jobs in Handshake - this will help students research your company, understand your opportunities, and prepare to meet with you.
We will set up your interview schedule after your registration is approved for any of the reps that want 1:1 interview/portfolio reviews. Students begin signing up for appointments in February.

Career Fair Questions? Please join our Zoom room for Employer Q&A on Fridays from 1:30pm-2:00pm PST January 24th, 31st, February 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, March 7th and 12th.

Registration Rates and Deadlines

Price ranges are listed below and include TWO reps, ONE 8' table, and continental breakfast. $15 discount if bringing an Otis alum as a representative or have an Otis alum-owned company. Limit one discount per company.

$85 Early Bird / $40 Non-Profit // addl reps $10/$5 Non-Profit // Due 1/15/25 11:59PM PST
$125 Regular / $60 Non-Profit // addl reps $20/$10 Non-Profit // Due 2/27/25 11:59PM PST
$200 Late / $80 Non-Profit // addl reps $30/$20 Non-Profit // Due 3/6/25 11:59 PM PST

Registration fee will be waived for non-profit arts organizations with less than 5 employees // add reps $10

IRD Event Schedule 3/13/25 (in person)

8:00 AM: Arrival Time
Park in the Otis parking garage located off La Tijera Blvd on the 2nd floor and higher. View campus map. Check-in booth will be between the parking garage and Ahmanson Hall - pick up lunch vouchers, swag, and get room/table assignments. Set up table before 9:15 A.M.

9:00 AM: Welcome Kick-Off Meeting
The Welcome Kick-Off Meeting will feature the Otis College President, Provost, Senior Team, Chairs, and Career Services team welcoming all employers, students, and staff. Please attend, as this will bring the community together to set the stage for the day, including any last-minute announcements to be shared. This will take place outside between Ahmanson Hall and the Galef Center stairs/elevator. Continental breakfast and coffee will be provided.

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Career Fair 1:1 Interviews and Open Tables
Employers host an open table or 1:1 scheduled interviews/portfolio reviews as selected in their registration preferences, located at each employer's assigned table. Please remember to keep all scheduled appointments to the 15-minute appointment window.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Networking Hour
Employers are invited to bring their lunch or conveniently purchase from Elaine's Cafeteria or other nearby dining options. This informal lunch break offers a great opportunity to network with students, staff, faculty, and fellow employers and organizations.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Career Fair 1:1 Interviews and Open Tables
Employers host an open table or 1:1 scheduled interviews/portfolio reviews as selected in their registration preferences, located at each employer's assigned table. Please remember to keep all scheduled appointments to the 15-minute appointment window.

Questions and FAQs

Email Sylvia Bier at sbier@otis.edu if you have any questions. Please join our Zoom room for Employer Q&A on Fridays from 1:30pm-2:00pm PST January 24th, 31st, February 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, March 7th and 12th.

STUDENTS: View information on the MyOtis IRD page.