Meet professionals and explore careers, internships and full-time employment opportunities across a variety of exciting fields and industries! We will be visiting several Des Moines employers that are of interest to all majors and class years! Students from the arts, POL, SOC, ANT, PSY, and ECB may be particularly interested.

See the full itinerary below for more information on each company.

7:25am-Meet in Thomas Commons lobby

7:30am- Depart from Thomas Commons Circle for Des Moines (transportation provided)

9:30am-11:00am- Site visit at Merchants Bonding Company. Merchants Bonding Company is an insurance company that has honed its expertise in contract and commercial surety bonding.  Based out of Des Moines, IA they are the 15th largest surety writer in the United States and do business in all 50 states. Merchants employs more than 130 associates in the areas of Underwriting, Customer Service, Claims, Information Technology, Accounting, Marketing, Compliance, Human Resources, and Summer Internships. 

11:15am-12:15pm- Quick lunch downtown

12:30pm-2:15pm- Site Visit with Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs .  The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs empowers Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting Iowans to the people, places and points of pride that define our state. The department impacts Iowans through the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Iowa Arts Council and Produce Iowa. It engages Iowans by elevating the role arts, history and culture play as an economic driver, a catalyst for the creative sector and a key ingredient in our quality of life.

2:30pm-4:15pm- Site visit at the Iowa State Capitol with Iowa Senate Democrats.   The Iowa State Capitol, seat of the Iowa General Assembly, houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State. The building was constructed between 1871 and 1886, and is the only five-domed capitol in the country. Our group will spend additional time with the Iowa Senate Democrat staff members who help draft new legislation, track the movement of bills, provide constituent services and help Senators stay in touch with citizens in their districts. 

4:00pm- Depart from Des Moines

6:30pm- Return to Thomas Commons 

Requirements and application procedures for the Des Moines, IA Career Tour:

  • Apply online by noon Thursday, January 31st.  Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a spot on the trip. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Attend the Pre-departure meeting on Monday, February 4th (11:30 am in Hedges).

Apply now

Please contact Rebecca Sullens with any questions.