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Special Edition: Everything You Need to Know about the Fall Career Fair
The Gies Business Virtual Career Fair is 5 days away. Are you ready to...
- Speak with company representatives via dynamic one-on-one and group sessions?
- Make new connections and broaden your network?
- Explore internship and full-time opportunities available to you in a variety of industries?
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How do I Register for the Gies Career Fair?
The career fair will take place on Friday, September 10th and Tuesday, September 14th between 12:00pm- 6:00pm.
Click hereÔÇ»to register for Friday, September 10thÔÇ»
Click here to register for Tuesday, September 14th
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The Career Fair is hosted through Handshake. How does it all work?
You can engage with employers via group sessions and/or one-on-one chats using Handshake’s video-chat technology. Review Handshake’s Guide to Attending a Virtual Fair to learn more about the format of the event and to review FAQs. You may also review Handshake’s Video Requirements & Troubleshooting to make sure your tech is ready to go!
Is there a way to find participating companies and opportunities posted?
There are over 150 employers ready to meet with you. For a complete list, please log onto Handshake and register for the fair. From there, you can see all the participating employers and register for one-on-one or group sessions.
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How can I prepare for the virtual career fair?
- Prepare and upload your resume to your Handshake profile. Update your resume to highlight your most marketable skills. Once you have uploaded your resume to Handshake, make sure it is public so that employers can easily view it. Click here to learn more
- Update your Handshake profile. Your Handshake profile helps you get personalized recommendations for jobs and events. Plus, employers use profile fields to find students to invite to their sessions. Don’t let an incomplete or out-of-date profile keep you from getting discovered by recruiters.
- ÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïCheck that the basics are accurate: graduation date, school year, major, GPA and work authorization.
- Select the job types, locations and roles that interest you, so recruiters know which jobs and internships are a good fit for you.
- Add your courses, skills, and any previous work experience.
- Find out which employers are attending and sign up for One-on-One Sessions/Group Sessions.
- Research the employers you’ll meet. Check out the company website and search online for recent news articles and other relevant information. This will help you think of questions to ask during sessions and make conversation during one-on-one sessions.
- Practice your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a 30-second introduction to who you are, what interests you about the company, and what kinds of employment (internships, full-time employment, etc.) you are interested in. Practice with a friend or career advisor so you’re ready when it’s time to introduce yourself to a recruiter.
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I have never attended a virtual career fair before. Are there resources to help me prepare?
- Drop-in advising is available Monday-Friday from 1-4pm in our office (BIF 1033)
- On Pitch: Come practice your self-introduction with a Gies Career Services advisor. No need to register; Simply stop by BIF 1033 from September 7th-13th from 1-4 PM. For those who prefer to meet virtually, you can drop into our Zoom room on September 9th from 9-12 PM here.
- Undergraduate students: attend the Career Fair Prep- How to Navigate the Handshake Virtual Career Fair Platform on Tuesday Sep 7 at 5:00pm and Career Chats on Wednesday September 8th form 1-4pm
- Suit Up: Join us at JCPenney on September 12 during the hours of 3 - 6 p.m. where you will receive up to 60% off all suits, professional attire, luggage and accessories. You will also be able to get measured for a suit and get tips and advice on putting together business professional attire. Please check Handshake for further details.
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How can I make a great impression during individual and group sessions?
- Dress professionally. Dressing up a bit will make a good first impression with recruiters and employees. Plus, wearing your favorite polished outfit will help boost your confidence in time for the event!
- Find a quiet spot and a neutral background.
- Arrive on time. It’s very important to show up at your selected session start time. Being on time shows the company representative that you’re dependable and respectful of their time as well.
- Maintain eye contact and practice active listening. Consider smiling and nodding occasionally as you would during an in-person conversation. Limit any distractions around you so that you’re not tempted to look away from your computer screen.
- Communicate like a professional. Use clear, professional business communication.
- Ask questions. Bring a list of prepared questions for each session. Having several questions ready will help you in case one or more of the questions are answered early by the employer. Have a pen and paper with you so you can jot down new questions that you think of during the conversation
- Ask for next steps and contact information: When talking to recruiters you should ask about the next steps in the process. Before parting ways with a recruiter, make sure you have their contact information so you can follow up after the virtual career fair.
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Gies Career Services “Day of” Career Fair Support
If you have any last-minute questions or issues related to the Handshake platform, Gies Career Services will be hosting a “day of” career fair support Zoom room.
Click here for the Friday, September 10th Zoom room
Click here for the Tuesday September 14th Zoom room
For any additional questions, please submit your question here or visit our Career Fair page here.
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The Career Fair is Over. Now What?
- Reach out the next day with a thank you. Whether it’s an email or LinkedIn message, be sure to reach out and thank them for their time. Because recruiters at career fairs come in contact with many candidates, you can use this chance to remind them why you’re a promising candidate, why you’re interested in the company, and the skills you bring to the table.
- View and apply to open jobs or internships. Keep the momentum going from your meetings with employers. Check out their page on Handshake to see current jobs and internships.
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Remember...
The career fair is one of many “job search channels” you can utilize during your search. We also encourage you to search for opportunities through other channels too (e.g. your personal and professional connections, employer information sessions and networking events, job boards such as Handshake, LinkedIn, company websites, etc.)
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Additional Career Fair tips are coming your way on Instagram! Follow us!
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