Preparing for a Virtual Job and Internship Fair

Making a strong impression at a Virtual Job and Internship Fair requires hard work and preparation! Follow some of the Fleishman Center’s tips for success to stand out at the Spring 2023 Virtual Job and Internship Fair happening Friday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the Handshake Virtual Fair Platform.

1. Schedule your 1:1 and group info sessions with employers in hireBING by Handshake.

To attend the Virtual Job and Internship Fair, you MUST register in advance AND sign up for employer sessions. There are no lines to wait in at a virtual fair and you can only attend sessions you are registered for. Spots are limited and will fill up fast! Registration closes when a session reaches maximum capacity, so don’t wait too long to make your schedule! Look over the list of attending employers to see which you will be most interested in meeting with and register for sessions in hireBING.

  • Sign up for employer group sessions: Attend a group info session with a recruiter and a larger group of students. These sessions will include an employer presentation followed by student Q&A! These sessions are open to all students.
  • Sign up for 1:1 meetings with employers: Meet individually with an employer during your scheduled session through video, audio and chat! This is a great way to make a good impression with employers and get one-on-one facetime. Note: If you are unable to sign up for 1:1 sessions, you may not meet the employer qualifications of major and class year.
  • NOTE: Only sign up for sessions you plan to attend: You must cancel any 1:1 or group sessions you do not plan to attend at least 48 hours in advance to make the employer’s schedule available for other interested students. Any student that does not show up for a registered session will be required to attend a professionalism seminar hosted by the Fleishman Center.

2. Update your resume/CV

It needs to be top-notch! Use samples from the Fleishman Center’s Career Guide as reference, or download editable templates from our website. Meet with a Fleishman Center staff member by scheduling an appointment in hireBING for feedback.

3. Update your hireBING profile

Make sure your hireBING by Handshake profile is accurate, updated and as complete as possible. Your profile will determine which employers and sessions you are eligible for. Upload your resume to your hireBING account so employers that you meet with at the fair can easily get a copy.

4. Get ready to make a strong first impression

It’s important to make a strong and professional first impression when connecting with employers. The following tips will help you to stand out when meeting a recruiter for the first time:

  • Prepare professional attire. It is recommended that students wear business casual at minimum. If you do not have professional clothing, the JCPenney Suit-Up will allow Binghamton students, staff, and alumni to purchase professional clothing with an exclusive discount. Students should dress the same for a virtual fair as they would for an in-person fair. This semester, the Suit-Up will be on Sunday, Feb. 5 from 3-6 p.m. at JCPenney in the Oakdale Mall.
  • Practice what you will say to employers aloud with friends, family, or a Fleishman staff member. This will help you speak more confidently at the fair!
  • Make sure your audio and video are good to go. It’s recommended that you have your video on, however if your environment makes that difficult, use a professional headshot in place of a blank screen and make sure your name appears correctly.
  • When using video, make sure your background is appropriate for a work setting and isn’t too messy or distracting. Handshake just released a blurry background feature for Google Chrome browsers that you may want to consider using. Be aware of your audio as well! If you’re in a noisy environment, be prepared to mute yourself between questions or while you aren’t speaking.
  • If you need a quiet and private space for your 1:1 sessions with employers, reserve a room in the Fleishman Center’s interview suite!

5. Do your research on employers

Make sure you research the organizations you signed up for sessions with in advance and check to see if they have positions already posted in hireBING. Identify their needs and figure out how you meet those needs! View our list of attending employers to see who will be present at the fair and research those organizations that most interest you.

6. Practice your elevator pitch

This is how you will begin conversations with employers! Decide what you want to say and how you want to say it. Remember that virtual 1:1 sessions are 10 minutes long. You’ll want your elevator pitch to be brief to leave time for more discussion. Tips can be found in our Career Guide, and you might find it helpful to watch a video for some ideas. Practice saying your pitch out loud using Big Interview (answer the “tell me about yourself question” and review how you did!). For feedback, schedule an appointment in hireBING with a Fleishman Center staff member.

7. Schedule a career consulting appointment in hireBING

Fleishman Center staff are ready to help with anything fair-related including:

  • Determining which employers you should meet with at the fair based on your interests
  • Feedback on your 30 second commercial and tips on speaking with recruiters
  • Resume/CV reviews
  • Any fair-related question!
  • Job/Internship searching beyond the fair

8. Review the Virtual Fair FAQ’s and technical requirements

Make sure you test your equipment and webcam ahead of time! It is recommended to use Google Chrome for your browser (Internet Explorer is not supported). Make sure you are fully prepared by reviewing all FAQ’s and technical requirements here!

9. Be confident!

If you are prepared, friendly, well-practiced, and follow up with your new connections — you’ll be well on your way to making a great impression with recruiters!

If you have questions about any Fleishman Center services or need help preparing for the job fair, please contact us at careers@binghamton.edu, or stop by our office in UU-133A!

Are you also attending an in-person fair? View our tips for success at an In-Person Job and Internship Fair.