Information for Student Attendees

The University Career Center offers a wide variety of opportunities for you to prepare for the career fair. Plan to join us for a prep event or read the UCC website for information before the fair. 

• Resume Review Workshop: Is your resume ready for the career fair? Find out from real employers, and enjoy the opportunity to network with them face to face. RSVP to attend the Resume Review Workshop here.
• Plan ahead: Dress well, practice your best handshake, award-winning smile and make eye contact! Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated, your favorite notebook or printouts with info about the employers you’re planning to meet, and aim to consolidate your personal belongings. Storage is not provided.
• Review your resume: Make sure your resume is one that is memorable but totally professional: short, sharp, and digestible. Use good quality resume paper and store in a binder or folder. Don’t forget to bring several hard copies–at least two for each company for which you have interest.
• Attire: Professional business attire is essential. Image and first impressions are critical. Know what the expected attire of your profession is and dress accordingly. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. '
• Do your research: Research Participating Employers. Check which employers are attending the fair on Handshake and conduct appropriate research on them. Read students’ reviews and find out if the open roles match your career interests. Be sure to check and see which companies are hiring full-time positions and internships.
• Prepare some questions: Ask questions directly, politely, and concisely. Have a short list of questions ready about company culture, professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, or anything else you want to learn about.
• Practice introducing yourself: You don’t need a perfect pitch, but you do need a confident intro when starting a conversation with employers.
• Take notes: Get the contact information of the people you talk to so you can follow up after the fair. And don’t forget to jot down notes about your conversation—it will make for much stronger follow-up!
• Follow-up: Follow-up is very important! Send a thank you email within 24 hours. Thank the recruiter for their time, restate your interest and qualifications for the position; reiterate your interest, and let them know what next steps you’re taking, such as applying for a job.
• Keep at it!: Supplement your fair attendance by attending other employer events offered by the University Career Center, or your department. For Computer Science students, the Corporate Partners in Computing Program (CPIC) offers exclusive opportunities (such as networking events, resume review workshops, information sessions, panels, and much more) for undergraduate and graduate student development. To inquire about upcoming events and programs, please reach out to corporaterelations@cs.umd.edu.