Career fairs offer a unique opportunity to take charge of your professional journey by connecting with a diverse range of employers and industry professionals all in one place.<\/p>\n
Whether you are seeking an internship, a full-time position, or simply exploring career paths, these events provide invaluable networking opportunities, personalized insights into industries, and access to recruiters eager to discover new talent.<\/p>\n","blocks":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion-with-notes","module_background_color":"white","accordion_position":"right","title":"Before the Career Fair","notes":"
Attending a career fair is an exciting opportunity, but preparation is key to making the most of it.<\/p>\n
To ensure you leave a lasting impression on recruiters and feel confident about your next steps, it is important to approach the event with a plan.<\/p>\n
From polishing your resume to following up after the event, every action can make a difference in how successful your experience will be.<\/p>\n","include_spacing":true,"expanded":false,"sections":[{"label":"Participate in Professional Development Events","copy":"
We often plan professional development events strategically ahead of Career Fairs to help you prepare. These events often include resume help, interview skill building, and networking opportunities.\u00a0Visit our Events Page<\/a>, check Handshake<\/a>, or find us on EagleSync<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Update Your Resume.","copy":" The following resources are available to help you update your resume.<\/p>\n Check what companies will be at the fair and research your top choices by reviewing their website, news stories, press releases, and social media pages. The employer list can be found in the event details in Handshake. At a minimum, you should know what the company does before you talk to them.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Companies hire for many different positions, not just positions directly associated with their services. For example, Hospitals and Schools need IT, HR, Social Workers, and Communications Specialists, not just nurses and teachers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n"},{"label":"Prepare Thoughtful Questions.","copy":" Prepare good questions that exemplify your knowledge about the company.\u00a0For example, ask about current projects their company is working on, how to prepare for a job in their field, when they typically hire interns (if they\u2019re not currently), what kinds of qualities they are looking for in their candidates, etc.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Practice a Brief Introduction.","copy":" Include your name, what you\u2019re studying, your class level, what kind of employment you\u2019re looking for and why you\u2019re interested in the company. Your introduction should take less than a minute.<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong>:\u00a0Hi, I\u2019m Ana. I\u2019m a junior in Computer Science at EWU and I\u2019m looking for an Internship that starts this summer. You\u2019re company really interests me because\u2026 Do you have an internship program?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Hi, my name is Samuel. I\u2019m in my last year of the MSW program at EWU I\u2019m looking for full-time opportunities in health organizations. This organization really interests me because\u2026 What kinds of opportunities do you have for new graduate social workers?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n"},{"label":"Practice your Interviewing Skills.","copy":" Some employers are prepared to interview potential candidates at the career fair or very soon after!<\/p>\n Dress professionally even if you are just passing through! Show these employers that your college is the right place to meet a quality group of potential candidates. Check out our professional attire<\/a> resource for guidance.<\/p>\n"}],"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"Before","identifier":"before-the-fair","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion-with-notes","module_background_color":"off-white","accordion_position":"left","title":"At the Career Fair","notes":" A career fair is your chance to connect directly with employers, learn about opportunities, and make a strong impression. To ensure your time is well spent, it is important to engage actively during the event. From initiating conversations with recruiters to attending company presentations, the way you interact at the fair can open doors to exciting possibilities.<\/p>\n Here is a list of key actions to take during the career fair to help you stand out, build relationships, and gather valuable insights for your career journey.<\/p>\n","include_spacing":true,"expanded":false,"sections":[{"label":"Make a Great First Impression.","copy":" Make eye contact, smile, and say hello. Shake the employer\u2019s hand, and introduce yourself with your prepared introduction.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Ask Questions.","copy":" Ask questions about the company that aren\u2019t readily available on their website. For example:<\/p>\n Never ask what their company does. That shows lack of preparation.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Stand Out From the Crowd.","copy":" Employers not only look at skills related to the field, but also soft skills such as communication, stress management, confidence, and love of learning. Try to display these traits while talking to them.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Be Courteous.","copy":" Don\u2019t monopolize the employers\u2019 time and be respectful of others waiting to speak with them. Don\u2019t be afraid to take their giveaways, but don\u2019t focus too much on them. Remember to say please and thank you.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Wrap It Up.","copy":" Towards the end of the conversation, ask if you can offer them your resume or if they prefer that you apply online. Ask for a business card so you can follow up with them after the fair and\/or connect with them on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n"}],"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"At the Career Fair","identifier":"at-the-career-fair","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy-with-image","layout":"half-image","show_left":true,"module_background_color":"white","title":"After the Career Fair","copy":" Follow up and Apply<\/strong> Apply to positions at organizations you found interesting.<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":109,"id":109,"title":"2024-2-28 Career Fair-9","filename":"2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9.jpg","filesize":2299491,"url":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9.jpg","link":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/career-fairs\/2024-2-28-career-fair-9\/","alt":"","author":"433","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-2-28-career-fair-9","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":676,"date":"2024-12-16 21:07:40","modified":"2025-01-15 22:09:11","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2400,"height":1601,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9-1536x1025.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1025,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9-2048x1366.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1366,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/test-www.ewu.edu\/careercenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/12\/2024-2-28-Career-Fair-9.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"youtube_video_id":"","video_orientation":"horizontal","image_alt":"","secondary_image":"","background_vertical_alignment":"center","background_horizontal_alignment":"center","background_crop":"chevron","component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"After","identifier":"after-the-fair","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy-with-image","layout":"small-image","show_left":false,"module_background_color":"off-white","title":"Attending a Virtual Career Fair?","copy":" Here Are 10 Tips You Need to Know.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Your guide to preparing for virtual career fairs and making a great impression with recruiters.<\/p>\n Handshake\u2019s Guide to Attending a Virtual Fair<\/strong><\/a> (Goes over the student process of finding, registering, and participating in a virtual fair on Handshake).<\/p>\n Video Example of a Virtual Career Fair \u201cSession\u201d<\/a> with an employer\u00a0<\/strong>(the student view starts at 5 minutes and 55 seconds if you want to skip ahead)<\/p>\n Though this covers individual sessions, the group sessions are very similar to this but include more students.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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\nSending a thank you note or email after the fair is a good opportunity to remind employers of your interest & skills. Check spelling, grammar, and tone before sending! Staying connected on LinkedIn if you have an up to date profile is a great idea too.<\/p>\nNavigating Virtual Career Fairs on Handshake<\/h5>\n