Hundreds of local and national employers visit campus every semester…

Are you ready to meet them?

YOU CAN BE!

1. Register for the event.

UPCOMING FAIRS & EVENTS

2. Research participating organizations.

Take some time to review the employers and organizations that are attending the fair. Read about their organization and any open positions they are actively recruiting to fill, or research details about their programs of study.  Look to see if they are offering individual or group sessions at an upcoming virtual fair & then sign up!

3. Update your Handshake & LinkedIn profiles.

Some employers will be researching candidates ahead of time by browsing Handshake profiles. Based on that information, they will invite students and alums to attend individual sessions. Make sure that your profile is up to date and that your profile visibility is set to Community or Public so that employers can discover you and have an accurate sense of who you are. Include relevant experiences and update your Career Interests survey so that employers know what your goals and interests are.

4. Create / update your resume.

Including a resume on your profile or offering to share your resume with a recruiter is another great way to stand out during an event. Make an appointment to speak with a Career Counselor or request an online document review for help drafting and revising your resume. Click here for Your Guide to Resumes – tips on how to get started with your resume and some examples. 

5. Practice your pitch.

When it comes time to meet with a recruiter, how will you introduce yourself? Be ready to answer questions like: Why are you interested in the company? What types of positions are you seeking? How is your previous work experience relevant?  Also think about what questions you plan on asking the representatives.  Practing ahead will help you be more comfortable and confident. Drop-by to speak with a peer leader for help in crafting & practicing your personal pitch.  And check out Handshake’s tips for preparing for preparing your virtual career fair pitch.

Other helpful tips:
Dress to impress, be distraction-free, ask if the employers would like to connect via LinkedIn, and always follow up with the recruiters you spoke with to say thanks and let them know if you are applying.

Preparing for Virtual Career Fairs 

In addition to the applicable steps above, you should also…

1. Register for employer sessions ahead of time.
You’re going to want to register for group information sessions and one on one conversations with employers prior to the start of the fair. These sessions are the primary way to connect with employers on the day of fair. Group information sessions will typically include a presentation by the employer, followed by a question and answer period. They will be attended by other UVM students, too. Individual sessions will just be you and a recruiter. Begin thinking about what questions you have about the company and the positions they are hiring for – especially if you are signed up for a one on one conversation. Check out Handshake’s tips for individual sessions with employers.

2. Make sure your technology is ready to go.
While it is preferable to have video capabilities in case an employer would like to speak with you face to face, you don’t necessarily have to have a device with a camera to participate in the fair. Check out Handshake’s tech requirements here.

3. Familiarize yourself with how the day of the fair will run.
On the day of the fair, you will log in to Handshake and easily have access to your schedule for the day via a tab that reads “Your Session”. The sessions that you signed up for ahead of time will appear with a button that indicates “Join Now” or “Launch Video” depending on the session type. Check out Handshake’s guide to participating in a virtual fair.

How does a Virtual Career Fair work? 

Like our traditional fairs, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with recruiters from companies and organizations who are seeking talented candidates to fill their open positions. To ensure you secure a spot with the employers you wish to meet, be sure to register early and sign up for group or individual sessions as soon as possible.

Employers who are attending the fair will set up two different engagement opportunities for students: group sessions and one on one sessions. Group sessions will typically last 30 minutes and employers will share a presentation about their organization, answer your questions about their open positions or what it is like to work at their company, or discuss a topic of interest related to their industry. One on one sessions are 10 minutes each and give you the chance to connect with a recruiter for an individual conversation. Registration is required for the fair and for the different sessions that you wish to attend, and can all be done in Handshake.

READ MORE FROM HANDSHAKE ABOUT VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRS

What are commonly asked questions?

If you think through and practice interview questions ahead of time, you will be more poised, confident and prepared. Here’s a list of common interview questions broken out by theme. At the bottom, you’ll find a list of possible questions for you to ask an employer. 

QUESTIONS AN EMPLOYER MAY ASK YOU

Personal assessment and career direction

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your long- and short-range goals? How have you prepared to achieve them?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• How would someone who knows you describe you?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
• Why should I hire you?
• What qualifications do you have that will make you successful in this field / position / organization?
• In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
• Describe how you work under pressure.
• How would you describe your ideal job?
• What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
• What are some examples of your creativity?

Work attitudes

• How do you define success?
• What qualities should a successful manager possess?
• Describe the relationship that ideally exists between a supervisor and supervisee.
• What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?

Academic assessment

• How has your college experience prepared you for a career?
• Describe your most rewarding college experience.
• What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?
• Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?

Knowledge of the employer

• What do you know about this organization? Where did you find this information?
• What contributions do you think you could make to this organization?
• If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?
• Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?

Other interests and experiences

• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
• What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?

Situational or behavioral questions

• Describe the most difficult interpersonal situation you’ve had with a professor, supervisor, supervisee or colleague. How did you handle it?
• If your supervisor were setting impossible deadlines, what would you do?
• How would you handle a situation where your direct supervisor asked you to do something that was not consistent with your professional judgment?

Sensitive issues

• How did you get along with your last supervisor?
• You seem overqualified for this position. Can you explain why you applied?
• What is the hardest job you have ever performed?
• How much do you think this position pays?
• Tell me your position on drug testing.

 

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER

• What qualifications do you expect the successful candidate to have?
• What are the main issues that need immediate attention?
• What resources are available to solve these issues?
• Do you support professional development? How?
• What are the established guidelines and procedures for making decisions in this position?
• What are the reporting relationships of this position?
• What are the short-term and long-term goals of the department and how are they set?
• How would successful performance be measured in this position?
• How often is performance reviewed in this position?
• What is culture of this organization? 
• Describe the interdepartmental relationships.
• What has the turnover rate of the department been?
• What happens next?

Personal Statements

Stand out in the crowd with a polished personal statement.

When applying to graduate school, personal statements are your chance to highlight your writing skills and demonstrate your passion for your chosen field of study.

Content

Your personal statement should be exactly that: personal. Use specific examples and speak honestly about your experience, interests, and goals.  

POTENTIAL TOPICS TO ADDRESS:

• Academic Influences: Comment on an inspiring writer or article in your field of study, your favorite professor and how they influenced you, the best project or paper you ever wrote, or the single most important concept you learned about in college.
• Academic Background: Discuss the rigor of your academic program, your specialized skill set, or relevant knowledge of the field.
• Motivation: Explore the evolution of your interest in the field, including turning points, contirbuting factors, challenges or hardships that influenced your decision, and what you have done to test your commitment to the field (work experiences, volunteering, internships, research, etc.).
• Personal Endeavors: Include any leadership opportunities or community service experiences, and highlight your maturity and self-reflection.
• Career Goals: Identify your specific post-graduate career plans, the role that your graduate-level education plays in those plans, your 5 to 10-year goals, or any additional educational plans beyond this program.
• Academic Record: If there are any major gaps or declines in your academic record, speak to the circumstances that led to those changes.

Length

Some graduate schools have specific guidelines for their personal statements. If your program provides instructions, be sure to read them carefully. You want to be sure to answer the question that is asked, and stick to any length requirements given. If there are no guidelines for length, consider keeping your statement between 1 and 2 pages long.

Additional Resources

Whether you’re still brainstorming possible topics or need someone to review your final draft, UVM’s Writing Center and the Career Center are both great on-campus resources. Check in with your Interest Group leader to schedule time for in-person support, or make an appointment at the Writing Center.

If you’re looking for additional online resources, consult the following:

• Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
• The Writing Center @ The University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Find Your Graduate Program
• Accepted

Different post-graduate opportunities may require you to submit letters of recommendation – including graduate and professional schools and certain jobs or fellowships.

A strong letter of recommendation is often to result of good preparation by the student. Building meaningful relationships with faculty, advisors, and supervisors will ensure that you have connections with professionals who can speak to your strengths and experiences. Communicating with them early and often about your request for a letter of recommendation will ease the process for you and your letter writer.

Before Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FACULTY, SUPERVISORS & ADVISORS

The key to a great letter of recommendation is that the writer knows you well. The writer should be someone who has worked closely with you for at least a year’s time.  This fact alone shows that the process of receiving a letter of recommendation takes time. If you intend to apply to graduate or professional school, you should be thinking about who could be a great letter writer for you early in your academic career. The next time you take on a TA position, join a research team, or accept a new job on campus, consider who in those spaces could serve as a great recommender and take time to nurture those relationships.

 

REFLECTING ON THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES YOU WISH TO HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR APPLICATION

As you consider who to ask for a letter of recommendation, spend time reflecting on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the opportunity you are applying to and who can speak to them most effectively. While a faculty member might be able to speak to your writing or research skills, your club advisor might know more about your leadership experiences. Double check requirements from the programs you are applying to about who can write a letter on your behalf; some may require a specific number of letters come from faculty members, depending on the nature of the program.

How to Ask for a Letter

You have done the hard work of building relationships across campus and you have determined who might be best to write on your behalf. Now, it’s time to ask them to write a letter of recommendation.

ASK EARLY

The earlier you ask your recommender to write you a letter, the better. The ideal time to ask is when you are certain that you will be applying for the opportunity that will require the letter. If you are sure, then there is no need to wait until the application opens up to ask. 

The next time you connect with your potential recommender, tell them that you are about to start an application and would like to know if they feel as though they could write a strong letter of recommendation on your behalf.

If the answer is yes: Hooray! Thank them for their generosity and tell them you will be in touch with more information regarding the process as soon as you have details on when and how to submit a letter.

If the answer is no: Don’t worry too much, you have plenty of time to ask someone else since you are starting the process early. Thank them for their consideration and move along to the next person on your list.

BE SPECIFIC

When you make the ask, be specific about what it is you are applying for and what you are asking of your recommender.

Provide any details you can about the program you are applying to, why you are interested in applying to this program, and why you believe this person would serve as a great recommender for you. If they accept, you should share a copy of your resume and the list of skills and experiences you want highlighted in the letter with your recommender. The more information they have about the program, your interest, and your experience, the better the letter will be.

SET A DEADLINE

Once your recommender confirms, arrange a deadline to have a completed letter by. You could use the actual deadline for the application, but that leaves very little breathing room. It is a good idea to let your recommender know when the actual deadline is and agree to set a “soft” deadline at least a week prior to the actual deadline.

After your outreach

You have confirmed who your writers are, shared helpful documents like your resume and a list of meaningful experiences you shared with the letter writer, and they have all of the information need to submit the letter on your behalf. However, your responsibilities aren’t over just yet!

FOLLOW UP BEFORE THE DEADLINE

Your recommenders want the absolute best for you, but they are also probably busy people with a lot of competing projects. As a common curtesy (and for your own peace of mind), you should follow up with your recommender at least one week before the deadline that you both agreed to. In your follow up message, politely remind them of the deadline and ask them if they have any last-minute questions about the process. You can also ask that they send you an email to confirm they submitted your letter, but know that it is not appropriate to ask to see a copy of the letter.

SEND A THANK YOU NOTE AND UPDATES

Once you have submitted your application materials and confirmed that the letter of recommendation has been submitted, think about how you are going to appreciate your recommenders. A strong letter of recommendation can take a lot of time to write, so make sure that you at least send a ‘thank you’ card or email to show how much you appreciate what your recommender has done for you.

Lastly, don’t keep your recommender in the dark! The reason why they agreed to write you a letter of recommendation in the first place is because they are just as invested in your success as you are. Share the great news once you receive your offer letter and use it as another opportunity to appreciate what your recommender has done for you. If things didn’t go as planned, let them know as well. It won’t be the happiest outreach you have ever done but, as goes the beauty of networking, you never know what opportunities your recommenders may have for you if your first plan falls through!

he key to a successful informational interview or networking opportunity is preparation.

Below, you’ll find some questions to help you brainstorm what you want to talk about.

JOB QUESTIONS

• Why did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
• What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
• What are the responsibilities in your job? What does a typical day or week look like for you? What percentage of your time is spent on which responsibilities?
• What kinds of problems do you deal with? What kinds of decisions do you make?
• What knowledge, skills, abilities, and other qualifications are desirable for this job?
• What do you view as the critical skills for a position in this field?
• What is your favorite and least favorite element of your job?

CAREER FIELD QUESTIONS

• What are typical entry-level jobs in this field?
• What is the typical pattern of career development in this field?
• What are the trends and hot issues in this field? What journals or web sites do you read to keep up with trends and developments in your field?

LIFESTYLE QUESTIONS

• What obligations does your work place upon you, outside of the ordinary workweek? What are your working hours like?
• How often do people in this field change jobs?
• How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, schedule, vacation, etc.?

CAREER PREPARATION ADVICE

• How did UVM prepare you for this work? What kind of background is necessary to enter this field?
• How can I acquire the required skills? Are there courses, or experiences, paid or otherwise, which you would recommend?
• If you were to hire someone to work with you today, what factors would be most important in your hiring decision and why?
• Is a graduate degree recommended? Are there specific programs that are valued in this field?
• What other related types of work should I consider and research?

JOB SEARCH ADVICE

• Given my education and experience, would I be a competitive candidate for entry-level positions in this field?
• How do you suggest that I break into this field?
• How can I identify both advertised and unadvertised vacancies in this field?
• Can you suggest anyone else whom I can contact for additional information? May I use your name when I contact them?

RESUME REVIEW QUESTIONS

• Is this an appropriate resume for the jobs I will be seeking? 
• If an employer received this resume, how do you think she or he would react to it?
• How might I best improve the form and content of my resume?