What’s the same?
- Employers still want to meet and hire YOU!
- Individual opportunities (1-on-1 sessions) for conversations with target employers
- Opportunities to learn more about companies and explore options
- You don’t need to be actively looking for a job to benefit from attending the fair
- Preparation is key!
What’s different?
- You create your own schedule – all sessions are virtual and held on Handshake
- Advance registration is required
- Group Sessions: 30 minutes | Up to 50 students – Great for learning about companies and exploring careers
- 1:1 Sessions: 20 minutes | One student and one employer rep – Ideal for job seekers and making personal connections
- Register for the CSU Virtual Career Fair in Handshake
- You must be registered for the fair in order to sign up for sessions with employers.
- Need help during the virtual fair? Join us on Zoom from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm MDT for support.
- Research employers you’d like to meet
- Review which employers are attending the fair (and follow employers you want to check back in with).
- Sign-up for 1:1 or Group Sessions in advance (mark your calendar!)
- How to Sign Up for and Manage Virtual Fair Sessions.
- Adjust your privacy settings to Community in order to attend Group and 1:1 sessions.
- For more information on profile privacy, please see Profile Privacy Options Handshake:
- You can sign up for sessions up to one minute before the start time; once the session has started, you’ll be unable to sign up for the session.
- Update your Handshake profile – employers will see it!
- A completed profile helps you stand out to employers. Here are the steps you can take to complete your profile.
- Upload a resume to your profile
- How to upload a document
- Use our Resume Guide as a template
- Attend Drop-Ins to have someone look over your resume before you upload!
- Employers should have access to your resume once you upload it to Handshake, but if you’d like to be able to easily share your resume during a 1-on-1 session, consider saving it as a Google Doc PDF, so you can drop it in the chat.
- Get a Preview
- Check-out Handshake’s “Get the Most out of Your Virtual Career Fair: Student Training Webinar” for a preview of what to expect and loads of great tips.
- Prepare a few talking points
- Talking points might include an overview of your background, studies, and career interests or goals.
- Create questions for the employers you’ll be meeting.
- Choose a quiet, distraction-free place to set up. Make sure you have a stable internet connection, and that your video and audio is working.
- Make sure that you are using a supported browser – we recommend Chrome or Firefox for the best experience
- Handshake Video Requirements and Troubleshooting
- Dress your personal best! Confident attire leads to confident interactions.
- Log into Handshake 5-10 minutes early and arrive to your sessions on time (or 5 minutes early).
- For group sessions: These are great for gaining insight and information. Come prepared to actively listen and take notes. There may be space to ask questions.
- For 1:1 sessions: These are great for individual connection. Come prepared to talk about your interests, skills/goals, and ask questions. Remember, sessions are only 10 minutes!
- While in sessions with employers, ask if and how they’d like to be followed up with or contacted in the future. Time will move quickly during the fair, so following up with employers will be important!
- Apply to relevant jobs and internships.
- If you’d like to follow-up with employers, some options to consider are:
- Send a ‘thank you’ email (ideally within 24 hours). You may want to reiterate your interest in their company and mention details of your conversation with them.
- Use LinkedIn to identify recruiters you spoke with and send them a personalized invitation to connect.
- Send a ‘thank you’ email (ideally within 24 hours). You may want to reiterate your interest in their company and mention details of your conversation with them.
- If you’re applying to positions, begin brushing up on interview skills by practicing on Big Interview.