This post is from Grown and Flown.
School-sponsored career fairs are an excellent way to find a job or internship. Due to the pandemic, almost all career and job fairs have been moved to a virtual format. This means that instead of being able to mingle and just walk up to whichever companies you find interesting, you will need to plan out and schedule meetings with the specific companies you are interested in.
One of the positive aspects of a virtual job fair is that it is easier than ever to attend because you don’t even have to leave your house. It is also a great idea to attend because many students tend to overlook career fairs, so you will definitely stand out just by being in attendance and getting to know the recruiters. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a virtual career fair.
What college students should do BEFORE a career fair
1. Check your school’s career center website
Research to see if any events are coming up such as job fairs, career fairs, or workshops from employers that you are interested in. Mark your calendar for the date of any events you are interested in and mark the date that the registration opens. Also, research the format that events at the career fair will be in, such as if it is small group meetings, individual meetings, or large meetings with more of a lecture format than actually meeting the recruiters.
2. Research the companies that will be in attendance
Go through and make a list of which companies you are interested in potentially working for. Once you have your list, sign up for either a group or individual session for each of these companies. Make sure to write down your schedule for the day in your calendar. Next, it is important to research each of these companies and their product or service, and culture/values. Take a look at each company website and take notes on the key points, such as the mission statement, values, and take a look if they have any recent media articles posted on their website.
3. Make sure all of your online profiles are up to date
Update or create your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles. Make sure that these profiles include any relevant job or internship positions you have had, leadership positions, your major, and your skills. Also, make sure that if your other social media accounts are public with your full name that they look professional. Don’t have photos of you partying all over social media, because if recruiters see this, they will most likely not want to hire you.
