What’s a Career Fair Like?

How to Prepare (Video)

How to Prepare for Virtual Career Fairs (Video)

Using Handshake: Virtual Career Fair

How to Prepare for In-Person Fairs (Checklist)

• Update your Resume: Want a Career Coach to review it? Upload it to Handshake for review and feedback.
• Research Companies: Look at the list of companies attending and the positions they are recruiting for (you can find this on the career fair page in Handshake). Decide who you are interested in speaking with. Research these companies and their job openings online before the fair. Have a plan for which tables you want to visit at the fair.
• Create and Practice Your Elevator Pitch: Include your name, class level and major, a short- or long-term career goal, and any experiences you have to support that goal. Try to align these goals to the employer you will be speaking with.  This can be tweaked depending on who you are speaking with.
• Business Professional or Business Casual: Dress for Success.
• Print Your Resume: At least 10 copies! You should give each employer you speak with a copy.
• How to Work a Career Fair: Watch this short video.
• Stay Organized and Send Thank You Emails: Collect business cards from employers you speak with and send thank you emails following the fair!

How to Prepare for Virtual Career Fairs (Checklist)

• Update your Resume: Want a Career Coach to review it? Upload it to Handshake for review and feedback.  Remember that your resume should be clear, concise, and up to date.  Have it uploaded and approved on Handshake before the fair.
• Research Companies: Prior to the day of the fair (ideally a week or two before the fair), register for the fair and look at the list of employers and decide who you are interested in speaking with. Research these companies and job openings online before your sessions are scheduled.
• Create Your Schedule for the Day: Upon registration, you will be able to sign up for 1:1 sessions and Group Sessions. Make sure you do this before the day of the fair. Add each scheduled meeting to your calendar so you do not miss any scheduled time with employers.
• Prepare Your Elevator Pitch: Include your name, class level and major, a short- or long-term career goal, and any experiences you must support that goal. This can be tweaked depending on who you are speaking with.
• Dress Appropriately: Even though you will not be traveling to meet employers, dress appropriately, and look well-groomed for your video meetings. Turn your camera on!
• Check Your Space: Make sure the space you are using is distraction free and quiet. Turn your camera on!
• Test Your Internet and Video Connections: Ensure that your Internet connection is functioning and that your audio/video is working properly before the fair start time. Handshake Video works best with Google Chrome.
• Stay Organized: Create a spreadsheet or chart where you can easily input information about the connections you make during the day or the companies to which you submitted your resume.
• Connect: Look for common ground with the person with whom you are speaking. Share something unique about yourself or your background that will be memorable.
• Send Thank You Emails: Send thank you notes or emails to all individuals that you contacted and thank them for their time.  This can be the difference between getting the interview and not. Reiterate why you are interested in working for them.