Students can meet potential employers at Spring Career and Internship Fair

Ohio University will host the Spring Career and Internship Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. Recruiters from across the country are looking forward to connecting with Bobcats from all academic backgrounds through Handshake’s virtual career fair platform, which was used for career fairs during fall semester.

The virtual platform allows students and employers to interact through video, audio and chat. Candidates sign up for 30-minute group sessions and 10-minute one-on-one sessions with employers who interest them.

“During the Career and Internship Fair, attendees can see how what they’re learning in their undergraduate and graduate careers ties into future opportunities,” said Katie Hankins, events and recruitment coordinator in the Career and Leadership Development Center (CLDC). “Whether students are career-ready or in the early stages of career exploration, the fair helps them build connections and practice their networking skills. Candidates can view participating employers in Handshake and build a customized schedule tailored to their needs.” 

The virtual career fair format has received praise from both Bobcats and employers. Rileigh Dozer, College of Business junior, obtained a summer internship after the virtual Fall Career and Internship Fair.

“Looking back on my experience,” she said, “it was very clear to me that this method of searching for internships and jobs and interviewing was more personal and created a welcoming environment. Each session I attended was one-on-one, which made connecting and asking questions less stressful.” 

OHIO alumna Marielle Miethke agrees. Miethke will be attending the fair to recruit for OhioGuidestone, one of the largest behavioral health institutes in the state. 

“With the new virtual fairs, I have had almost completely booked sessions with students eager to learn more. Overall, it has been a great experience connecting with OHIO students!” she said.

In a digital environment, candidates often wonder how they can impress recruiters behind a screen. Before the fair, students are invited to attend 30-minute CLDC career coaching appointments through Microsoft Teams to explore career interests, get their resume reviewed, and polish professional skills. Pre-recorded webinars about “crushing” virtual career fairs and professional dress (the CLDC recommends business casual/professional for video calls) are also available to view here. Finally, researching companies and testing audio visual (AV) settings ahead of time can boost confidence and calm nerves. 

Bobcats can learn more about the event and register here. Registration is required to participate in virtual sessions, so attendees are encouraged to pre-register and sign up for sessions with employers early. Sessions are first come, first served. However, employers frequently add new sessions, so students should check back closer to the event to update their schedule. 

Faculty and staff promotion of career events is critical to getting students to attend and connect with employers. More than 700 Bobcats registered for the Fall Career and Internship Fair in large part due to this encouragement from faculty and staff. In addition to encouraging attendance, faculty and staff can also build the Career and Internship Fair into their curriculum. Course instructors who are interested in including this event in their course structure should fill out this request form.

For questions or more information about the virtual Career and Internship Fair, please contact Katie Hankins at hankins@ohio.edu.  The list of employers attending the virtual event is consistently updated on Handshake.