Stand Out at the Spring Career Fair
Did you know Miami University’s Spring Career and Internship Fairs are right around the corner? Don’t stress! We’re here to help you stand out to the 250+ employers who will be on campus starting with the All-Majors Career and Internship Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 19!
You probably know Handshake as Miami’s job/internship search platform. You may have used it to schedule a Career Advising appointment or to RSVP for a career-related event. You can also use this powerful tool to get ready for the career fairs.
Each of the spring’s four career fairs has its own Handshake page. We’ll use the All-Majors Career and Internship Fair’s page as our example. Right away, you’ll see a checklist of steps you should take before the fair, such as taking your free professional headshot and getting your resume reviewed and printed. An equally important step is researching the employers.
What makes a student stand out at a career fair? A quick Google search—or consultation with ChatGPT—will tell you there are MANY factors at play. Professional dress. A firm handshake. Good eye contact. These are definitely important. But what will make employers REMEMBER you is your elevator pitch that tells them who you are and why you’re the right fit for their organization. The follow-up questions you ask about their available positions. Your knowledge of their company’s mission and values.
This is where Handshake can help. As the old saying (and the brick column outside FSB) goes, knowledge is power. And your knowledge is a direct reflection of the research you put in, long before you walk into Millett Hall or the Shriver Center in your professional best.
Let’s go back to the All-Majors Career and Internship Fair’s Handshake page, shall we? Click on “Employers.” Doing so will bring up a LONG list of employers, starting with 3CDC and ending seven pages later with Worldpay. You may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. This is where Handshake’s filters will save the day!
Filter by Location
Say you’re looking for an internship close to the hometown you share with the Simpsons. In the sidebar, enter “Springfield, Ohio” as your location. Make sure to use the slider to designate how many miles you’re willing to travel; it’s automatically set to 50, which is a haul! After that, check “Internship” to filter out organizations only hiring for full-time roles. And there you have it!
Majors
Now, let’s say you’re a senior Poli Sci major who wants to work full-time in state government after you graduate in May. To get started, go to the sidebar and select “Job” under “Job Types” and “Full-Time” under “Employment Types.” After that, designate “Political Science” as your major under, you guessed it, “Majors.” Finally, under “Industry,” choose “Government – Local, State & Federal.” And, voilà, here are the employers for you!
“Accepts All Majors”
Pro tip: checking the “Accepts All Majors” box is your friend. Sometimes, employers select “All Majors” in Handshake rather than designating every single major that can apply for their full-time positions and internships. Like our senior Poli Sci friend, you may get a short list when you pair a major with a specific industry. Don’t be discouraged if this happens! First of all, your original listing includes employers who would be very interested to meet you. And, second of all, they’re not your only options.
Research
You get the gist, right? Once you have your list(s), the ball is in your court. It’s up to YOU to review each employer’s Handshake profile. It will give you an overview of the organization, a list of its available positions, and a list of its upcoming on-campus and virtual events. Yeah, that’s right. Many employers host events, like information sessions or coffee chats, in advance of or directly after the career fairs. These events can help you expand your professional network and secure the position of your dreams.
Take a look at Platinum Career Partner Medpace’s Handshake profile for an example of what to expect. Want to take your research even further? Also check out each organization’s website and LinkedIn page!
This post has mostly focused on how Handshake can help you get ready for the career fairs. But don’t forget: Handshake is your year-round gateway to employers! The Career Center has made it easy to tailor your search of jobs and internships with its Miami University Collections! Start by updating your career interests to help them connect you to the information you need. Examples of listings include Opportunities Close to Campus and Opportunities with Social Impact. You can also explore listings by college!
Still have questions about Handshake or the career fairs? Stop by the Career Fair Pop-Up Prep Shop in 1078 Armstrong from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 12 to 14 and 17 to 18.
We wish you the best at the career fairs! Get out there and show employers why they should #HireMiamiOH!