What is a Career Fair?
What is a career fair and why should you attend one? A career fair is an event where students and alumni connect with employers to explore jobs and internships, learn about industries and build professional networks. UNH Career and Professional Success (CaPS) hosts campus-wide Career and Internship Fairs each semester, as well as many industry-specific career fairs for individual colleges and programs. By bringing together a wide range of employers from various fields, fairs are a great way to discover potential career paths, connect with recruiters, and apply for internships and job opportunities. UNH's Spring 2025 Career and Internship Fair will take place in the Memorial Union Building (MUB) on February 26 and 27.
Are you wondering what happens at a career fair and why you should attend one? Read on to learn how to prepare for a career fair and leave feeling confident and accomplished.
UNH student speaking with representatives from Fidelity Investments at the Career and Internship Fair
What is the U-Wide Career and Internship Fair at UNH?
UNH's Career and Internship Fair happens twice during the academic year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Career fairs welcome over 500 representatives from many different companies and industries to table at the event. UNH students will have the opportunity to chat with representatives from each company, learn more about job and internship openings and better understand company culture. These conversations are also a great opportunity for students to network and sell their skills and experience to potential employers.
UNH student interacting with an employer at the Career and Internship Fair
Why should I attend a career fair?
Career fairs are excellent opportunities to interact with representatives from a wide array of companies all at one event. UNH's career fairs allow you to make valuable connections with employers who are interested in directly recruiting UNH wildcats. Fairs are also a great way to connect with employers and talk with representatives about their experiences and how your skills can bring success in their industries.
UNH student talking with representatives from Cintas at the Career and Internship Fair
What if I don't know what I want to do with my major after graduation?
There is no need to know exactly what career or career area you want to go into to attend a career fair or to get great value from the experience. Before the Career Fair, looking at Handshake, UNH's job and internship platform, and seeing the companies that will be in attendance and the jobs they are recruiting for allows you to learn about a variety of different industries. At UNH's Career and Internship Fair, you will be able to learn about a variety of different industries. Conversations with representatives from each company can help you learn why employees like working at that company or what a day in their work life is like and the mix of majors and experiences their colleagues have. In general, a career fair will help you to see what jobs exist and can help you narrow down the scope of where you are interested in working.
Many employers are hiring a wide range of majors and students. No matter the industry, transferrable skills such as critical thinking, communication, professionalism and teamwork are valuable skills that employers are looking for in candidates. Many business operations positions require degrees beyond their typical industry hires.
UNH student at the Career and Internship Fair
How should I prepare for the Career and Internship Fair?
Before arriving to the fair, take advantage of the many resources Career and Professional Success has to offer. These include career advising drop-in hours for resume and LinkedIn guidance, online tools like Vmock and Standout for AI-assisted tools, and Handshake for employer and job exploration. Make sure to dress professionally for the event and bring copies of your updated resume. Check the event map and employer list beforehand so you can plan what tables you want to approach. This will also help you feel more prepared and less overwhelmed upon entering the event. Additionally, it can be helpful to prepare an elevator pitch, meaning you will briefly introduce your skills and why you would be a good fit for the company.
UNH student talking to representatives from Cross Insurance at the Career and Internship Fair
What do I say to potential future employers?
Meeting with employers can seem intimidating. Follow these tips for a positive and stress-free interaction!
- Make eye contact and smile.
- If you're particularly interested in a company, ask for a business card or contact info so you can send a thank you and reach out after the fair.
- Treat every meeting like an interview. Prepare two or three questions to ask each employer. These should be related to the company or positions you’re interested in. Make sure your questions are insightful and not easily answered by looking at their website.
UNH student meeting with employers at the Career and Internship Fair
What can I do if I'm feeling overwhelmed during the Career and Internship Fair?
Attending career fairs aren’t necessary to receive job and internship opportunities, but they are a great resource for exploring potential opportunities with employers who directly want to hire UNH students.
Consider doing the following to feel more at ease:
- Come later during the event or during popular class times. The event may be calmer with less crowds.
- Speak with a member of the CaPS team; if a professional staff member is around to make an introduction, this may help break the ice.
- Connect with alumni representatives. Keep an eye out for alumni pins and ribbons and connect with recruiters who may have a shared history at UNH!
- Take breaks – find quiet places you can take a moment between conversations to reset.
Who can I connect with to learn more about career opportunities on campus?
Career and Professional Success has professional advising staff in each college on campus. Advisors are available for drop-ins and one-on-one appointments to discuss career and internship fair prep, career document updates and online resource utilization. CaPS staff are available for every step in your career exploration from beginning your search to salary negotiation after your job or internship offer.
Explore the CaPS website to see all they have to offer!
Learn more about the UNH Career and Internship Fair
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