Attending campus career fairs can be beneficial for graduate students. Whether you’re searching for a job or internship, exploring companies or looking to network, career fairs offer many opportunities—no matter your program or area of study. 

This semester, career fairs will happen both on campus and virtually on Handshake. Whether you attend an in-person or virtual fair this semester, there are steps you can take to help you make a great first impression. Here are some tips for making the most of the career events as a graduate student. 

Save the date 

Check the schedule of career fairs for the fall semester and sign up to attend on Handshake. If you don’t have a Handshake account yet, follow these steps to set up your free profile. 

Next, review the list of employers who will be attending and make a list of those you’d be interested in meeting. The list of companies and recruiter schedules are published ahead of time and updated regularly leading up to the fair.  

For virtual career fairs, there are two options for scheduling. You can attend general information sessions or sign up for short one-on-one meetings with recruiters. General sessions allow for attendees to receive information about the company and the types of positions that they are looking to fill. Individual meetings offer a one-on-one opportunity to share more about yourself and your career goals. Review these instructions to . 

Update your resume and Handshake profile 

Make sure you have a resume that highlights your skills, abilities and experience. If there are specific employers that you plan to chat with at the career fair, make a variation of your resume that is tailored to each employer. Review these tips for creating an industry resume. 

Graduate students with completed Handshake profiles have a better chance of meeting one-on-one with employers at virtual careers fairs. Additionally, make sure your profile details, particularly your qualifications and GPA, are on the public setting for employers to see.  

Prepare for your conversations 

Before the fair, prepare two or three questions to ask each employer. These should be related to the company or positions you’re interested in. Research the company ahead of time to ensure your questions are insightful and not easily answered by looking at their website.  

Have a notebook and pen with you. After speaking with recruiters, write down a few things that you discussed. Take note of what you liked or didn’t like about the company. You’ll want to reference these notes later to recall the conversation if you’re asked to schedule an interview. 

Attend a Prepare for the Fair workshop 

For more career fair tips, attend the upcoming virtual for graduate students and postdocs on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. Learn more about navigating career fairs and other valuable information to help you ready your resume for the recruiters you speak to. 

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Whether you’re looking for an internship or a job after graduation, career fairs are a great way to make progress in your search. These events allow you to connect with employers who will be hiring, and there are steps you can take to help you make a great first impression. Here are some tips for making the most of the virtual career events taking place this semester.

Do your research

First, check the list of upcoming fairs and RSVP for the event in Handshake. If you don’t have a Handshake account yet, follow these steps to set up your profile.

Then, review the list of employers who will be attending and make a list of who you’d like to speak with at the fair. You’ll want to set up a schedule for the fair as soon as possible with employers who will be attending (either one-on-one appointments or group sessions). Setting your schedule early allows you to take advantage of the best time options. You’ll also have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the employer’s products and services. 

New employers are added daily to the list, so regularly check the to see who will be attending each event.

Schedule time to chat virtually with employers at the fair

Once you have your list of employers you’d like to connect with at the fair, your next step is to sign up for sessions to connect with employers through Handshake. One-on-one appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or you can choose to be in a group session. 

Learn more about signing up for sessions in our Virtual Career Fair Prep guide. Questions? Ask a career development advisor through LiveChat on the Career Services website.

Update your resume and Handshake profile

Make sure you have a resume that highlights your skills, abilities and experience. If there are specific employers that you are scheduled to chat with during the career fair, make a variation of your resume that is tailored to each employer. Review these tips for creating a memorable resume, and use the free AI resume editor by Quinncia to get personalized, instant feedback on your resume.

Students with completed Handshake profiles have a better chance of meeting one-on-one with employers at virtual careers fairs. Once you have your profile updated and completely filled out, make sure your profile details, particularly your qualifications and GPA, are on the public setting for employers to see. 

Prepare for your conversations

Practice introducing yourself to employers. Start by sharing your name, year in school and major or area of interest. Talk about the positions you’re interested in, and some relevant skills or experiences. 

You should also prepare two or three questions to ask each employer. These should be related to the company or positions you’re interested in. As part of your research before the event, make sure your questions are insightful and not easily answered by looking at their website. Here are some sample questions that might be good to ask:

• “How did your degree help you prepare for the position you are in now?”
• “I read that your company just started a project doing _______. What opportunities would an intern/new team member have in this project?”
• “What do you like most about your job and working for _______?”
• “I am interested in following up with you about your job opening. Could you tell me the next steps in the process? And could you give me your email address so that I can follow up with you in a few days?”

Get organized

Instructions for how to connect with each employer at the career fair will be in their schedules, and will be emailed to you prior to your scheduled chat. If you’re using a virtual program to connect with the employer, like Zoom or Skype, test it before your scheduled time.

Whether you’re meeting with employers in person or have a video chat scheduled, wear clothing that is reflective of your identity and aligns with the context of the job you’re seeking. This can put you in a better mindset and help you make a good first impression. Additionally, be mindful of your background if you have a video chat scheduled with an employer.

Have a notebook and pen nearby as well. After speaking with employers, write down a few things that you discussed. Take note of what you liked or didn’t like about the company. You’ll want to reference these notes later to recall the conversation if you’re asked to schedule an interview.

Follow up

If you received contact information from a company representative, send them an email following your conversation. Reintroduce yourself (they will chat with many students at the fair) and thank them for their time. Use your notes to recall something that you discussed or enjoyed about the conversation, and let them know you’re interested in moving to the next step in the process.

For more tips to help you prepare for career fairs, check out weekly programs and workshops from Career Services.

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