Career Fairs: Know Before You Go

A career fair is an event that provides students an opportunity to meet diverse employers looking to hire UCI students for part-time, full-time, and/or internship opportunities.

This Policy is in place to ensure that individuals paying UCI Student Services Fees or UCI Division of Career Pathways Alumni Services Fees have access to the career fairs funded by these fees. Additionally, the Policy assists the Division of Career Pathways in facilitating employers meeting the population of students they are seeking to hire through on-campus recruitment at UCI.

• Gain access to employers that are specifically looking to hire UCI students for:
  • Full-time positions
  • Internships
  • Part-time jobs
  • Seasonal jobs
• Network and meet with recruiters and professionals in various industries
• Find out what employers from various industries are looking for from applicants

• Representatives from various employers will be in attendance looking to hire UCI students for part-time, full-time, and/or internship opportunities. Check out the 'View Employers' section on event page on Handshake.
• Students interested in learning about various industries and career options are encouraged to attend.

• Each employer has a table with information about their opportunities
• Approach each employer that you are interested in and introduce yourself
• Ask them to share more about their available positions
• Share how your skills and experiences meet their needs and offer them your resume

• Attend Division of Career Pathways' workshops
• Have your resume reviewed during our drop in hours or a career counseling appointment
• Research the employers you're interested in in advance
• Fine-tune your elevator pitch and practice articulating how you are career ready
• Dress professionally, follow proper attire guidelines, and bring your Student ID card
• Bring multiple copies of your resume
• Check out our career guide on how to Prepare for the In-Person Career Fair
• Check out our career guide on how to Prepare for the Virtual Career Fair

We are delighted to welcome faculty/staff to attend our career fairs. Your presence and support are invaluable in fostering connections between our students and potential employers. To ensure a positive and productive experience for everyone involved, we ask that faculty staff adhere to the following guidelines:  

• The primary purpose of the career fair is to provide students with opportunities to engage with employers. Faculty/staff should avoid any actions that might detract from the student's experience. 
• Faculty staff should always maintain professional conduct, serving as role models for students in interacting with employers.  
• If students are waiting to speak with an employer, please limit your interactions. Engage in brief conversations and allow students to have priority access. Save detailed discussions for times when no students are waiting or arrange to speak with employers outside the career fair. 
• Refrain from discussing personal career interests or research projects unless directly relevant to the student experience and beneficial to the employer's understanding of the academic environment. 
• You may be asked to leave a conversation or to speak with an employer later if your presence is impacting the flow of student interactions. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a student-centered environment. 
• Wear your university identification badge to ensure you are easily recognizable to students and employers. 
• Coordinate with the Division of Career Pathways Employer Relations team before the event to understand the goals of the career fair and any specific roles they might play. 

 For more information about our Guidelines and policies, visit https://career.uci.edu/recruiters/employer-guidelines/