Career Fairs and Employer Events
Connect with employers, explore career opportunities, and grow your professional network through Gies Business career fairs, employer showcases, and campus recruiting events.
Upcoming recruitment events
In-Person Career Fair
- Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 16
- 1:00-6:00pm
- I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center
Virtual Job Fair
- Thursday, September 24
- 12:00-4:00pm
- Via Handshake
Gies Business Employer Showcases
Meet employer partners in a casual setting at showcase events hosted in the Lincoln International Atrium. Employer showcases are informal networking events. Business suits and printed resumes are not required.
Campus Career Fairs
Across campus, many opportunities exist to network with employers and find employment opportunities. Most career fairs are open to all Illinois students.
In-person vs. virtual career fairs
Explore the differences between in-person and virtual career fairs so you can choose the format that best supports your networking and career goals.
In-Person
- Employer booths
- Flexible drop-in format
- Networking opportunities
- Bring printed/electronic resumes
Best for:
- Exploring employers
- Practicing networking
- Making spontaneous connections
Virtual
- Online through Handshake
- Scheduled sessions
- Targeted employer conversations
- Pre-register for sessions
Best for:
- Focused conversations
- Flexible scheduling
- Remote participation
Prepare for the career fair
Whether you’re attending your first career fair or returning with a clear list of target employers, preparation can help you make stronger connections and feel more confident during employer conversations. Use the resources below to research employers, refine your resume, practice your pitch, and plan your approach before the event.
- Review employers in Handshake
- Identify priority companies
- Apply before attending
- Research roles and qualifications
- Tailor your resume to highlight relevant coursework, experiences, skills, and accomplishments that align with the employers you'll meet
- Use strong action verbs and focus on accomplishments, including measurable results whenever possible
- Proofread carefully to ensure your resume is free of spelling, grammar, and formatting errors
- Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor to have your resume reviewed and receive personalized feedback before the career fair
- Prepare and practice a concise introduction that includes your name, major, career interests, and what you are seeking
- Research employers in advance so you can ask thoughtful questions about their organization, opportunities, and company culture
- Focus on building genuine connections by actively listening, showing curiosity, and engaging in meaningful conversation rather than trying to recite a script
- Prepare 2–3 specific questions for each employer that demonstrate your interest and help you learn more about potential career paths and opportunities
- Dress professionally
- Bring your i-Card
- Bring printed and digital resumes
- Keep notes in a padfolio
- Prioritize target employers
- Request recruiter contact information
- Avoid salary questions in initial conversations
What should you wear?
Choosing the right attire can help you feel confident and make a strong first impression at career fairs, networking events, and employer conversations. Use the guide below to understand expected dress codes for different event types.
Career Fairs, Interviews
Business Professional
- Dark or neutral colored pant, dress or skirt suit, button-down shirt, and closed-toe shoes. Tie recommended.
Networking Events, Coffee Chats
Business or Smart Casual
- Khakis, dress pants, or a skirt worn with a button-down shirt, sweater, or blouse. Some styles of dresses are appropriate. A blazer is recommended for some events.
Employer Showcase Events
Smart or Campus Casual
- Wear what you would wear to class (jeans, t-shirts, sweaters), but take it a step above leisure-wear, athletic-wear, and pajamas.
Need professional attire? The Career Closet at Gies Business provides students with access to low-cost professional clothing to help you prepare for interviews, career fairs, and networking events.
Virtual career fair resources
Handshake provides step-by-step guidance for registering, scheduling sessions, and participating in virtual career fairs.
Virtual Fair Success Tips
- Test your audio/video before sessions
- Upload your resume to Handshake
- Join sessions early
- Keep notes after conversations
- Follow up within 24–48 hours
How to Prepare for Virtual 1-on-1 Sessions
Before you dive into your first one-on-one session with an employer during a virtual career fair, there are a few simple ways to set yourself up for success.
How to Prepare Your Virtual Career Fair “Elevator Pitch”
Learn how to create the perfect elevator pitch ahead of your next career fair. (Includes examples!)
How to Prepare Questions for Virtual Career Fairs, With Examples
Tips for developing questions that will help you learn more about employers.
Follow up after the fair
Following up after a career fair helps you strengthen recruiter connections, reinforce your interest, and stay top of mind during the hiring process.
Send a Thank You Note
Follow up within 24–48 hours and reference your conversation specifically.
Craft a professional and intentional message. College recruiters can be at multiple career fairs at multiple campuses each month – help them place where they met you. Remind them of the fair at which you interacted with them, mention specific topics from your conversation, and reiterate your interest in specific positions and opportunities. And thank them for their time and consideration of your application. Don't forget to attach your résumé.
NOTE: After attending a virtual fair on Handshake, you can send a message directly from Handshake to the employers that you participated in one-on-one or groups sessions with.
If it's been a week and you haven't heard back, don't worry! Checking in after 10-14 days is perfectly appropriate. The goal is to be enthusiastic but not irritating.
Connect on LinkedIn
Connect with recruiters and continue building relationships professionally. Before doing so, make sure your LinkedIn profile exists and is up to date. Then use your LinkedIn account to follow companies of interest, connect with recruiters you spoke with, and get a sense of companies' culture and opportunities.
Stay Proactive
Continue networking, applying, and attending employer events after the fair.
While career fairs are a great place to make a connection, they're often just one piece of a successful job or internship search strategy. Looking for next steps after the fair? Use the many resources available to you to build connections with employers, including Handshake, upcoming company events, and CPD workshops. Most importantly, work your network. Reach out to alumni at your targeted companies, conduct informational interviews, and continue building connections.
Sample Follow Ups
Sample Thank You Note
Hello,
Thank you so much for speaking with me at the [EVENT NAME] on [DATE.] I enjoyed learning more about [POSITION NAME] at [COMPANY NAME]. As we discussed, I have [relevant experience or qualities here]. I have submitted my application and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sample Follow Up Email
Hi [Recruiter Name],
I hope you are doing well. I wanted to follow up on my message sent on [DATE]. After speaking with you at the [EVENT NAME], I remain very interested in [POSITION NAME]. I look forward to speaking with you about the opportunities at [COMPANY NAME]. Thanks!
Sample LinkedIn Request
Hello! It was great meeting you at the [EVENT NAME]. Thanks for answering my questions about [POSITION NAME]. I look forward to staying in touch.
Need personalized career support?
Every career journey is different. Meet with a Career Advisor for one-on-one guidance tailored to your goals, questions, and next steps.