Navigating a Virtual Career Fair

In addition to in-person recruiting fairs and other events, virtual career fairs are a great way for UVA students to network with employers and UVA alumni! Now more than ever there are so many ways for you to make connections. Virtual Fairs often incorporate a combination of group meetings (professional speaking to multiple students) and one-on-one sessions (professional with one student for 10 minutes). Some events may be “Conference Style” where the programming will be held over the course of several days and some events will require advance sign up or even advance application.

Virtual formats allow you to:

Meet with employers, most frequently you will interact with recruiters through video calls.
Pre-schedule 1:1 or group sessions with employers ahead of the fair or on the day-of.
Make an impression. Bring your unique perspective to the table, ask great questions, and follow up with recruiters after the fair.

Below is everything you need to know to prepare for a virtual career fair!

BEFORE THE FAIR

In addition to research you would typically do to prepare for a career fair, like researching companies and preparing your elevator pitch, you will want to allocate time to understanding the structure of the event. If you aren’t sure about the basics you should be doing to prepare for a career fair, check out this article “5 Steps to Career Fair Success” to learn all about it.

Develop a Strong Resume

Make sure to create a professional resume and have it reviewed! Your first step should be to run your resume through VMock which is an online resume review tool that provides instant personalized resume feedback! UVA Career Center Drop-Ins are another great place to have your resume reviewed. You can find our full drop-ins schedule here.

Upload your resume to your Handshake profile and make sure that your privacy settings allow employers to view your profile (if you want them to) so that they can see your skills and experience. You can also check out this article to find out about making sure your Handshake profile is complete.

Review & Research Employers

Make a list of the employers you’d like to speak with and familiarize yourself with their goals, products, services, and view any openings they might have listed at this time by viewing their website. You can also check their LinkedIn, website, or other social accounts to get information about the company culture.

Review which employers are having group sessions and sign-up for one-on-one sessions with employers you are most interested in. If employers offer a sign-up process, be sure to sign up early for sessions with the employers you like so you’re guaranteed a spot.

Technology & Logistics

Get your space ready – ensure you have a good internet connection in a quiet room without distractions! It may be helpful to test your connection, camera, and microphone prior.

If you are using Zoom, ensure you have a professional or blank background – blank backgrounds are best. Under Zoom’s settings, click on the “Video” tab to ensure your HD option and touch-up feature are checked. However, if you have an internet connection that is a bit slower, these may impact your processing power.

Wear an entire outfit, from the top of your head to your shoes, even if employers will only see your top half. Wear business casual attire (ex. suit, nice shirt & tie, blouse, skirt, or nice pants). Although the employer will only see the very top of your outfit, dressing for success will help you show up and put your best foot forward.

Prepare your "30-second Pitch"

Knowing more about your personal interests, motivations, and abilities will be helpful for you to begin connecting with others to market your unique strengths. Your pitch can be a great tool to develop responses to “Tell me about yourself” or “Walk me through your resume.” Remember, this pitch is used to get the conversation started, so don’t stress about memorizing it or covering your entire career trajectory.

To begin preparing, reflect on the following:

Interests (both personal and professional)
Past experiences
Transferable skills
Your future goals

Sample Pitch

Hi, I’m [insert name], and I’m interested in creating plans to help big businesses be more sustainable.

I’m graduating in May with a major in Environmental Thought and Practice, but my study abroad trip to Costa Rica, where we assessed ways to maintain biological diversity in the face of economic development, truly deepened my commitment to sustainability.

I think my internship with the UVA Office of Sustainability and Athletics helped establish some key skills in this area as well.

Looking forward, I’m pursuing roles where I can contribute to sustainable initiatives in for-profit businesses.

Could you tell me more about the role you are recruiting for in corporate social responsibility?

And don’t forget to prepare lots of questions you want to ask employers!

DURING THE FAIR

Technology

Always keep yourself on mute, unless you are speaking. If possible, use headphones. It is easier to hear the employers, and the audio is much clearer for them as well.

Virtual Fair participants are able to report technical issues and fraudulent, spam, or other inappropriate activity directly from Handshake, on the web, or the Handshake app. Learn about Reporting an Issue at a Virtual Fair.

Body Language & Communication Tips

Non-Verbal Communication

Eye contact - try to look at the camera or at least at your screen so employers know you are paying attention.
Facial expression - keep your facial expressions sincere and don't be afraid to smile!
Voice tone - keep your voice firm, warm, and relaxed.
Timing - it's okay to pause before and while answering a question.
Hands - keep your hands relaxed and to communicate excitement and interest. If it doesn't feel natural, don't do it.
Posture - sit upright and relaxed facing your screen. Try to avoid slouching!

Verbal Communication

Engage in conversation by responding to employers' questions concisely, then ask your prepared questions.
Awkward talking at the same time will happen. That is okay! Smile or laugh it off and defer to the employer. It shows your flexibility and professional nature.
Offer your resume if it feels appropriate – be aware that many recruiters have online resume submissions now.
As you wrap up the conversation, thank the employer for their time and ask what the next step is. Don't forget to ask for their contact information if they didn't already offer it. Be respectful that other students may be waiting behind you.

Sample Questions to Ask Employers

What kinds of entry-level positions exist within your company?
Does your company hire on a continual basis or just at certain times of the year?
How long does the hiring process take?
What qualities does your company look for in an employee?
How many new employees (or interns) is your company looking to hire?
What makes your company unique compared to other companies?

AFTER THE FAIR

View and apply to open jobs or internships. Keep the momentum going from your meetings with employers. Check out their Career page or their employer profile on Handshake to see current jobs and internships.

If you received a business card or contact information, send those contacts an email. Reintroduce yourself (they meet a lot of students) and thank them for their time. Send a thank-you e-mail within 1-3 days of the fair and add employers you spoke with as connection on LinkedIn. You can send an initial or additional resume in your thank-you e-mail and again, remind the employers of your strengths and interest. Remember to include your name, school, date of the meeting, and a personal touch (ex. remind them of something specific from your conversation). Also, check our upcoming events in Handshake to see if they will be on Grounds for an upcoming event to further connect.

Have more questions about our virtual fairs? You can learn a lot more about preparing for 7 minute video linked below with tips for virtual career fair success or find the longer, 1 hour version from Handshake if you need more support! You can also schedule a 1:1 appointment or join us for drop-in advising Monday-Thursday in Clemons from 1:30-4:30pm.