The 2020 Fall Career Fair @ MasonÔÇ» is coming up on October 8 and 9! This list of 11 pro-tips will help you make the most of your time at the job fair.

  1. Registration is mandatory – Visit JobsConnected to register by Tuesday, October 6.

  2. Research employers attending the virtual fair ÔÇ»– Check out their positions in ÔÇ»Handshake. Remember these employers are actively hiring! Be open-minded about where you're willing to work and visit as many employers as you wish.

Ô£à Pro-Tip:ÔÇ» Skim websites of your top employers of interest to get a general sense of theirÔÇ»mission, primaryÔÇ» products or services, and any company ÔÇ»news ÔÇ»that could help you come up with questions to ask

  3. Make a list of questions to ask at the fair – Based on your ÔÇ»company research, come up with a list of questions ahead of time and place them in a text document for easy access during the fair.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Don’t ask the questions you think employers want to hear; ask what you genuinely want to know! Examples:ÔÇ» 

• How are new hires trained? 

• How does your organization demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity? 

• ÔÇ»Are there mentorship opportunities for new professionals? 

• What exciting new projects is the company involved in?

  4. Update and review your resume – Your resume should have your most relevant/recent skills and experience.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Email your resume to careers@gmu.edu to have it reviewed, or set-up a phone or video appointment.

  5. Submit a resume via an employer’s Resume Dropbox – At a virtual career fair, you will not physically give your resume to employers, rather you’ll submit it electronically via a Resume Dropbox.

Ô£à Pro-Tip:ÔÇ»EmployerÔÇ»Resume Dropbox links will be on their ÔÇ»JobsConnected Employer Page ÔÇ»and will be ÔÇ»searchable in Handshake (just search for “Resume Dropbox”) a few days before the fair.

  6. Prepare your introduction and responses to commonly asked questions – Download our worksheet.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Limit your introduction to 50 words or less, keep it in a text document to quickly copy and paste it into the chat when appropriate.

  7. Check your technology – Do your webcam and microphone/headset work? Once at a live employer booth, be ready when an employer wants to chat with you.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Have a friend help test your technology to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

  8. Dress appropriately – You will be meeting with employers in video chat rooms. Choose attire accordingly.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Dress in colors that will contrast with your background. Check out our Workwear Pinterest board for inspiration.

  9. Prepare for a group setting – Employers will each have their own room that looks similar to Zoom. Be prepared to introduce yourself on video or through the chat. There may be other job seekers trying to speak with the same employer. Video sessions and chatbox interactions are in shared spaces and will be visible to others.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Be sure to introduce yourself while you are in the room. Check the chat and notes feature to see if a question you have was recently answered. Use your research to ask follow-up questions.

  10. Communicate clearly – Similar to an in-person fair, be prepared to introduce yourself and ask and respond to questions. Be careful not to interrupt other’s conversations as you wait your turn to engage.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: ÔÇ»When typing in the chat, use grammatically correct sentences and avoid informal acronyms or chat jargonÔÇ»(i.e. ttyl).ÔÇ» 

  11. Follow-up after the fair – Ask for contact info andÔÇ»take notes on who you met and ÔÇ»what you discussed. Make sure to follow-up promptly on any action items and say thank you after the fair.

Ô£à Pro-Tip: Employers are generally involved in multiple events. When you follow up,ÔÇ» be specific ÔÇ»about when you met them, the instructions that they gave you, and why you are reaching out to ÔÇ»them.