#GetHiredOnHandshake: Rock The Fair

Good morning Jumbos! We’re back with another installment of #GetHiredOnHandshake. We hope some (many!) of you joined us for our In-Person Career Fair last Friday. Our Fall Virtual Career Fair is on the docket for this Friday, so we wanted to make sure you have all the tools in your toolkit to get the most out of your virtual fair experience. If you missed last week’s post, we discussed some preliminary ways to get yourself set up for the virtual fair. But there’s more to a virtual fair than just opening your computer — we want to make sure you make a rockin’ first impression that leaves recruiters impressed and wanting more. Below are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare for game day:

So you’ve registered for the virtual fair and set your schedule…now what?

💮 Check your tech

Make sure your technology is tested and ready to go (YOU MUST USE CHROME). On the day of the fair, you will log on to Handshake, navigate to the fair page, and then 5 minutes prior to each session start time a button will activate allowing you to join via video. (You should use Chrome for your browser, allow pop ups from Handshake, and enable Handshake to access your microphone and camera!)

💮 Do your research

Research the employers you plan to meet with. Whether you are attending a group session or a one-on-one, it is worth taking some time to research the company ahead of time. Check out their Handshake profile, company website, social media, and search online for any relevant articles about the company. This will help you come up with some talking points. If you are participating in any one-on-ones, come prepared to share a bit about yourself, your background, and your interests, and be sure to ask a couple of questions.

💮 Prepare your space

Find a space that is as distraction-free as possible. Due to the virtual nature of the fair, you can participate no matter where you are physically located. Take some time before the fair to find and set up a place where you feel comfortable and confident. Be sure that wherever you decide to participate from can offer a natural/neutral background (which can be virtual if it is professional looking), and that will offer some privacy and quiet the day of the event. You are in the driver seat to take advantage and create an atmosphere where you feel confident and ready to make a lasting, positive impression.

💮 Dress to impress

Plan to dress professionally for the Virtual Career Fair. Review proper attire for Men, Women, and those beyond the binary. Business casual attire is  appropriate for the Virtual Career Fairs, unless you’ve been instructed differently. You may note some career fair or interview attire guidelines portray traditional gender roles: remember, you are the final judge of what will work for you. Job seekers should dress professionally for the gender they would choose to present at work or in gender-neutral attire. The most important consideration for appropriateness of attire is that clothes be professional, fit well, and be consistent with organizational culture.

💮 Watch the time

Arrive to your sessions on time and prepared – don’t be late! Being on time demonstrates to the recruiter that you are responsible and reliable, and that you respect their time as well. Even though these sessions are virtual, it is still important to make a good first impression. *No-shows may result in a loss of access to all Handshake functionality*

💮 Don’t fret – We’re here to help

If you run into any problems or tech issues on the big day, don’t freak out! Check out our Virtual Career Fair Troubleshooting Tips and FAQ blog post for some tips and advice that has worked for students in the past. We will also have a separate Zoom Help Room open on the day of the fair to help answer questions in real time.

💫🌟STUDENT SPOTLIGHT🌟💫

Pictured: Reilly Uiterwyk, Class of ’25