Career Fair Days provides a forum for Cornellians to meet with more than 250 employers over a two-day period. A wide variety of employers attend, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government and not-for-profit organizations. These organizations attend Cornell University’s Career Fair Days to increase visibility, to illustrate the benefits of employment in their organization, and to provide information to Cornell students about entry- level jobs, co-op opportunities, and internships. Many of these organizations also participate through Cornell’s On-Campus Recruiting Program and use Career Fair Days as a kick-off for their recruiting season. Others attend to introduce Cornell students to their organization; some collect resumes for future openings.

September 24 and 25 @11am-4pm both days in Barton Hall

More info and how to register via Handshake

Tips to make the best use of Career Fair Days

Before:

• Review relevant modules in the Career Development Toolkit, especially the module on in-person Career Fair tips to help you prepare
• Update Your Resume: Prepare a strong resume to bring with you (bring 15-20 copies) that highlights your experience and transferrable skills, and is not too narrowly focused
• Research employers on Handshake & plan your time to make a strategy for which employers you want to speak with
• Download the Handshake app to your phone so you can capture QR codes and other information as you meet employers
• Prepare your introduction (aka Elevator Pitch): Practice how you want to spend the 1-2 minutes you will have to speak with a recruiter. Let them know who you are and what you are interested in. Include your name, degree and when you will graduate, field of study, career interests, and why you are interested in them specifically
• Prepare questions to ask recruiters at the fair
• Dress the part: Recommended attire is business professional, however business casual is okay as well. Review the module on Dressing Professionally for more information
• Meet with a career advisor: schedule an appointment with a full-time or peer advisor

During:

• Ditch your backpack: Find the designated areas for bags and jackets and leave your non-essentials behind
• Greet the recruiters: Make eye contact, have a firm but not crushing handshake, and launch into your introduction. Be sure to pause so the exchange is more of a discussion/conversation vs. a monologue. Listen intently to their response and follow up with some tailored questions.
• Ask for the appropriate contact person and email to followup

After:

Follow Up: Be sure to send an email to employers who interest you, thank them specifically (reference your conversation), and ask potential questions

Another way to get involved with the career fair is to volunteer! Check out opportunities with your career office staff.