Internship & Job Career Fairs

Log into Handshake, click on Events then search for the event name.Under each employer there is a list of positions.

To get the most out of the experience and make the best impression when you meet employers, we recommend you take these steps to prepare ahead of time.

• Research participating organizations in Handshake.
  
• Watch the Career Fair Prep: How to Prepare Good Questions video to learn more.

• • You may find a position that interests you in an industry you didn’t expect. Therefore, it’s a good idea to look through the list of organizations and browse jobs. Pick a few employers to meet and research them to develop strategic, educated questions to ask during the fair.

• Do the following research before attending the Career Fair.
  • Analyze their website; find out about their products, work, clients, and competitors.
  • See if they have positions posted, look for their mission statement or cultural pillars, and check the annual report and/or current news.
  • Check LinkedIn to see if WashU alumni work there; check their locations and organizational structure.

*Recruiters can always tell if students have researched ahead of time, so this step is critical for making a good impression!*

• Practice how you’ll introduce yourself:
  • Watch our Career Fair Prep: Introduction Pitch video to learn more. What about you and/or the employer inspired you to meet them?
  • Here is a formula for your 30-second intro:
    • Start off by sharing your name, year, and major.
    • Say a bit about your interests or experience (coursework, activities, leadership, internships/jobs) that are relevant to the employer (which you’ll know from your research)
    • Mention what about them caught your attention
    • State why you think you and the organization might be a good match.
    •  Ask a question based on what you read on their website and find out how you can stay in touch or what next steps you should take.

*For tips, see this video.*

• Plan what you’ll wear:
  • Watch our Career Fair Prep: How to Dress video to learn more. A suit is safe, but a professional dress, nice pants, a crisp shirt, and/or jacket will also look polished. Aim to appear as a polished version of yourself. Need a visual? Check out the Career Center’s Pinterest Board ‘What to Wear that Works.’ You’ll find pins that will give you a visual idea of what will work at the Career Fair.
• Prepare materials: Write or update your one-page resume and review it to ensure the format is clean, descriptions are clear, and there are no errors or typos. You’ll also want a notebook and pen ready to jot down notes about your conversation after each employer meeting. You will also want to write down their name (with correct spelling) and email address. These notes will help you write a thank you note referring to your conversation (help them remember you!) and include details from your conversation in a cover letter.
• Follow-up afterward:
  • Watch our Career Fair Prep: Following Up After the Fair video to learn more.
  • Send a thank-you email referring to specifics from your conversation, and, if appropriate, connect on LinkedIn.

• Please make sure to visit Handshake’s Guide to Attending a Virtual Fair for important information on signing up for sessions, preparing for the fair, and participating in the fair.
• Important Information: Students must select time slots to meet with schools.
• Please note that you must sign up for a session ahead of time. Once student registration for the event opens, students can start selecting time slots to meet with representatives. You will need to claim your Handshake account to get started. After you’ve done so, see the tips below for signing up and attending virtual sessions.
  • From the overview page, click on the Available Sessions tab to review and sign up for sessions.(For details on this process, refer to Signing Up for & Managing Virtual Fair Sessions.)
  • To sign up for Group or 1:1 sessions, you may be prompted to update your profile privacy settings. We recommend using Community to make the most of your Handshake experience, as this will allow you to participate in all fair sessions and engage with other students/alumni!
  • For more information on profile privacy, refer to Profile Privacy Options in Handshake.
• Review which employers are attending the fair (follow employers you want to check back in with)!
• You’ll be able to sign up for sessions at any point, even during the fair (as long as the session hasn’t ended).

No. If you are a First-Year student, don’t let your lack of a professional resume stop you from attending. However, we highly encourage most students to use the fair as a good reason to update their resumes. For tips and examples, see our Resume & Cover Letters handout. For feedback, visit our Quick Questions walk-in hours.

Each time you put yourself in a professional situation, you grow in comfort and confidence. Practice makes progress, and returning to the fair in the future will be much easier if you show up when the stakes are relatively low. Career Fairs help students practice the critical skill of professional interaction. To attend the fair to get experience introducing yourself to a few employers.

As for the employers that will be present, it’s essential to understand that recruiting cycles and methods are industry-driven. To effectively plan your internship or full-time job search, it is critical to know when industries tend to post positions. Please read our information about recruiting cycles by industry to understand better how and when various industries tend to post, recruit and hire.

Regardless of the industries that interest you, or the likelihood of campus recruiting through virtual fairs or postings, the Career Center is dedicated to helping you build your target list, interact with employers, network with alumni, and learn how to navigate the search and application process successfully. For help with your strategy, join a Career Interest Group or schedule an advising appointment.

You must engage in intentional conversations with employers to learn about and share an interest in their work. You can do this in a variety of ways:

• Events: Virtual information sessions, coffee chats, networking and panel events, and more
• Career Interest Groups
• Our Team: Our employer relations and advising teams can help facilitate connections and introductions if you have a particular interest area.
• Washington University Alumni Communities & Networks
• LinkedIn

Yes. Please use your WUSTL key to log into Handshake and update your profile. If you have difficulty logging in, don’t hesitate to contact us or call 314-935-5930.

Unfortunately, the Career Fair is open to only current WashU students and alumni.

We will hold additional fairs in the spring.