Elevate affords stakeholders and participants access to our premier global professional ecosystem.

Illinois Institute of Technology · Career Services

Elevate

Transform your Illinois Tech education into career success.

About Elevate

What Is Elevate?

Elevate turns your Illinois Tech education into career-ready experience — through internships, research, competitions, study-away, and more, paired with personal coaching and verified digital credentials that prove your skills to employers.

Starting before enrollment and continuing through graduation, you build the real-world experience and professional qualifications today’s employers expect. Our global network connects students to premier opportunities worldwide and positions Illinois Tech graduates among the most competitive candidates anywhere.

Our promise: every Illinois Tech student graduates ready to excel from day one — equipped with the distinctive, relevant education and practical expertise that define our commitment to scientific, technological, and professional innovation.

Ready to elevate your future?

Join your fellow Illinois Tech students building their careers.

Join Elevate Now

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Getting Started

Your Next Steps

I. Join your cohort

Log into 312/Campus Groups and search “Elevate Year 1 (First Year)” or “Elevate Year 2 (Sophomores).” Complete the Terms & Conditions form to activate your membership.

II. Access your checklist

On your 312 home page, find “My Checklists” on the right. Your personalized checklist shows the required activities and electives for your year.

III. Book your Elevate Success Coach meeting

Schedule a 30-minute check-in to build your career roadmap and get your questions answered.

First-Year: Book Now Second-Year: Book Now Third-Year: Book Now

IV. Explore more opportunities

Visit elevate.iit.edu to browse curated experiences, job simulations through Forage, and additional career resources.

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How It Works

Four Pillars

Structured development. Year-appropriate activities build essential skills — from LinkedIn to internships to leadership — all tracked in 312/Campus Groups with your Elevate Success Coach.

Digital credentialing. Earn LinkedIn-ready badges that verify real competencies — Digital Literacy, Professional Communications, Leadership Development, Career Critical Thinking, and more.

Your Elevate Success Coach. Every student gets dedicated support — guidance, progress tracking, and a partner who makes sure no one falls behind.

Real-world experience. Students who complete all requirements may gain access to professional experiences — internships, research, and leadership roles.

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Skills You’ll Build

A Selection of In-Demand Skills

Elevate builds the skills employers and labor-market research rank highest. Here is a selection — each tied to a badge track you can earn and show on LinkedIn:

Communication — Professional Communications

Analytical & Critical Thinking — Career Critical Thinker

AI Literacy & Generative AI — AI Practitioner

Leadership & Influence — Leadership Development

Teamwork & Collaboration — Collaboration Champion

Self-Awareness & Adaptability — Self-Awareness Developer

Technology & Digital Literacy — Digital Literacy Champion

Career & Self-Development — Career Explorer

A selection of the skills Elevate develops, drawn from frameworks including NACE, the World Economic Forum, CASEL, and the Coursera Job Skills Report.

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Student Benefits

What You Gain

— Strong job-placement rates for students who complete Elevate*

— Higher starting salaries reported by students with professional experience*

— Verified digital credentials for LinkedIn and employers

— A personal Elevate Success Coach dedicated to your journey

— Access to professional experiences for students who complete Elevate**

* Based on Illinois Tech First-Destination Survey data · ** Subject to Elevate requirements and availability

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The Journey

Year by Year

Pre-College (Summer). Digital literacy, LinkedIn creation, and career exploration — plus optional enhancements.

First Year. Resume development, campus engagement, and a professional foundation.

Sophomore Year. Internship preparation, mock interviews, portfolio development, and leadership experiences.

Junior Year Coming Soon — secured internships, advanced networking, industry-specific skills.

Senior Year Coming Soon — job-search strategy, graduate-school prep, and career launch.

Coming soon: the Junior and Senior Year tracks and a dedicated Transfer Student cohort are being built — stay tuned.

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Eligibility

Who Can Participate

Incoming first-year students — join during pre-college summer experiences.

Current students — first-year and sophomore students can enter the experiences for 2025–2026.

All Illinois Tech majors — Engineering, Business, Architecture, Computing, Humanities, Design, and Applied Technology students are all encouraged to join.

Transfer students Coming Soon — a dedicated Transfer Student cohort is launching to help transfers build experience and credentials on an accelerated track.

Our Commitment to Career Readiness

Our commitment is to your career readiness. Students who complete all Elevate requirements and don’t secure employment within six months of graduation may be eligible for additional upskilling support and options at Illinois Tech.