Career Fair Tips

We host local and national organizations hiring for internships, co-ops, and jobs at multiple career fairs.

Career fairs provide WashU students a unique opportunity to meet and interview with dozens of potential employers in a short amount of time. All WashU students and alumni are invited to attend.

Find upcoming career fairs

Explore our events and programs to find an upcoming career fair or other networking event.

Events and programs

Explore this page to learn more about preparing for career fairs:

Career fair prep

The Center for Career Engagement offers multiple sessions of Career Fair Prep. These workshops will teach you how to research employers, approach recruiters and other tips to working a fair. Sign up for a session by logging into Handshake and searching “career fair prep” under Events.  You can also watch our YouTube playlist on career fairs and interviews.

Learning about an Organization

Before career fairs, many organizations will host information sessions allowing students to find out more about their organizations. Students are encouraged to research positions and sign up for events by logging into Handshake, the Center for Career Engagement’s interactive database of jobs and internships.

Career fair FAQs

Where can I find a list of employers participating in the career fair?

  • Log into Handshake, click on ‘Events,’ then search for the event name. Each career fair event displays the employers attending.

What should I do to prepare in the time leading up to the fair? 

  • 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. Analyze their website; find out about their products, work, clients, and competitors. 
    • 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. Here’s a formula for your introduction:
    • Start off by sharing your name, year, and major.
    • Share 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. Watch our  Career Fair Prep: Introduction Pitch video to learn more.
  • Plan what to wear
    • 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 Center for Career Engagement’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.

How should I follow up after the fair is over?

How do I join a Handshake Virtual Fair?

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.
  • You’ll be able to sign up for sessions at any point, even during the fair (as long as the session hasn’t ended).
    • 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 and follow employers you want to check back in with!

Do I need a resume uploaded to the system to participate in the fair? 

No, don’t let your lack of a professional resume stop you from attending. However, we highly encourage students to use the fair as a good reason to update their resumes.

Connect with the Center for Career Engagement for feedback on your resume.

What if I don’t see an organization I’m interested in? Should I still attend a career fair? 

  • 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. Attend the fair to get experience introducing yourself to a few employers and explore new opportunities.
  • 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 helpful 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 Center for Career Engagement 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, connect with the Center for Career Engagement.

Can alumni attend the career fair? 

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.

Can non-Washington University students/alumni attend the Career Fair? 

Unfortunately, career fairs are open only to current WashU students and alumni.