From UNF Career Fair to FIS Career: How partnerships are building Jacksonville’s workforce pipeline

A discussion at a University of North Florida career fair helped launch William Moorefield’s career.  

As a business management student, Moorefield met recruiters from Jacksonville-based FIS while exploring internship opportunities. What began as a conversation led to a summer internship and ultimately a full-time role after graduation.  

Moorefield’s experience reflects a longstanding partnership between FIS and UNF that is helping build a strong workforce pipeline for Northeast Florida and beyond. As a Fortune 500 financial technology leader, FIS has long recognized the value of investing in emerging talent. Through its strong partnership with UNF, FIS continues to recruit outstanding students from a wide range of disciplines, creating meaningful internship opportunities that often lead to full-time careers. 

For Corey Graf, an early talent project manager at FIS, the partnership with UNF is about more than filling positions. It's about building relationships and helping students discover opportunities they may not have considered. 

"We love being on campus and engaging with students," Graf said. "Whether it's at career fairs, in classrooms or through the FIS Student Club, we're committed to helping students understand the variety of careers available at FIS." 

While FIS is widely known as a technology company, its workforce needs span far beyond computer science and information technology. UNF students from majors including business, finance, English, communications and many other fields have found internship opportunities with the company. 

"The role determines the major," Graf explained. "We're looking for talented students with different backgrounds and perspectives who can contribute to our organization." 

As one of Jacksonville's largest employers, FIS provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic environment where innovation, collaboration and professional growth are highly valued. Currently, there are approximately 242 UNF alumni working at FIS.  

UNF students and regional companies connect at career fairs 

Graf is a familiar face at UNF career fairs, where he enjoys meeting students and helping them feel comfortable during the recruiting process. 

"When students approach our table, I try to break the ice and put them at ease," he said. "A career fair can be intimidating, but it's really an opportunity to start a conversation." 

It was at one career fair where Moorefield learned more about opportunities at FIS, which led to a summer internship in 2024. 

The internship experience at FIS is designed to be both challenging and rewarding. At the conclusion of each semester, interns participate in a Shark Tank-style presentation, developing and pitching ideas that leverage AI to improve business processes. 

The program not only gives students a chance to showcase their creativity and problem-solving abilities but also provides valuable exposure to company leaders and real-world business challenges. 

"My internship gave me a firsthand look at the people, culture and opportunities available at FIS," said Moorefield. "What stood out most was the amount of responsibility interns were trusted with and the willingness of team members to invest in my development. The experience allowed me to see how much there was to learn and how many different career paths existed within the company. By the end of the internship, I could see myself building a long-term career at FIS, which made the decision to pursue a full-time role a natural one." 

Moorefield said his internship gave him valuable insight into working in a large professional environment and helped develop the skills he uses every day in his current role. 

Moorefield was offered a full-time position at FIS after he graduated in December 2024 with a bachelor's degree in business management and a minor in finance.  

"Having experience with FIS before graduation made the transition significantly easier," Moorefield said. “By the time I joined full-time, I was already familiar with the company's culture, systems, and that familiarity allowed me to spend less time adjusting and more time focusing on learning new responsibilities and contributing to the team. It also gave me greater confidence because I wasn't entering an unfamiliar environment — I was returning to a company where I already felt comfortable."  

Moorefield, who is a business process analyst within the Business Legal Operations division, credits his coursework at UNF with helping him develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  

"Being able to balance coursework, projects and deadlines prepared me well for the expectations of both my internship and my current role," said Moorefield. "A large part of my role involves identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, solving operational challenges and making information more accessible to end users. I enjoy working on projects that combine technology, business processes and problem-solving. The variety has given me the opportunity to learn something new every day and continue growing professionally."  

According to Graf, one of FIS's core philosophies is investing in employees over the long term. 

"When people feel supported and have opportunities to grow, everyone benefits," he said.  

That investment often begins with internships. Many UNF interns eventually join FIS as full-time employees, making internship programs an important part of the company's talent strategy. 

"Our goal is to help students develop professionally and ultimately hire them into full-time roles," Graf said. 

What FIS looks for in candidates 

While a student’s academic achievements are important, Graf is looking for more when he meets students at career fairs.  

Graf says successful candidates often stand out through their experiences, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Students who come prepared to discuss their experiences at career fairs often make a lasting impression. 

"We look for UNF students who are eager to grow, adaptable to change and responsible," he said. "We want people who are open to new challenges and excited to develop new skills." 

For instance, as artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, FIS seeks candidates who are comfortable embracing emerging technologies while maintaining critical human judgment. 

"AI fluency is becoming increasingly important," Graf said. "We want students who are willing to learn how to use AI as a resource, but who also understand the importance of keeping the human element in the loop." 

This year, FIS introduced an AI Buddy System, pairing interns with employees to help them explore how AI can be effectively integrated into daily work while learning from experienced professionals. 

The initiative reflects FIS's commitment to cultivating future-ready talent and ensuring interns gain meaningful mentorship throughout their experience. 

Beyond technical skills, FIS values innovative thinkers who demonstrate effective communication abilities, critical thinking skills and a team-oriented mindset. 

"We're looking for people who can solve problems, work collaboratively and contribute to our culture," he said. 

A strong resume can make a difference during the recruitment process. 

Graf encourages students to think of their resume as a story rather than simply a list of experiences. 

"A standout resume clearly communicates the candidate's skills and experiences," he said. "It helps us understand who they are and what they can bring to the organization.  

A partnership that strengthens Jacksonville 

FIS leaders value the strong relationship they have built with UNF and credit the University as a leading source of talent for the Jacksonville region. 

"UNF is an outstanding partner," Graf said. "The students are well prepared, engaged and ready to contribute." 

From classroom presentations and career fairs to student organization involvement, FIS maintains an active presence on the UNF campus because of its belief in the quality of UNF graduates and the importance of developing homegrown talent. 

As Jacksonville's No. 1 talent pipeline across multiple industries, UNF continues to connect employers with highly skilled graduates, while companies like FIS provide students with the experiential learning opportunities that launch successful careers.