Virtual career fair to connect students with employers during pandemic
May 4, 2020
University of North Georgia (UNG) students will have the opportunity to chat with potential employers from the comfort of their own home May 19 through a virtual platform.
Hosted by UNG's Career Services, the career fair will be conducted through an app, in place of the traditional career fair that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can download the Career Fairs Plus app now to see the employers registered to attend. Recruiters will supply times available for interviews, and students can choose the employers they wish to meet.
Students may schedule a 15-minute time slot with a recruiter between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., which gives them most of the day to connect. Meetings can be held via phone, Skype, or Google Hangouts, to name a few options. It should be noted that these meetings are not interviews, but rather a chance to speak with employers about potential internship or employment opportunities with their companies.
Olivia Reeves, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in human services delivery and administration, hopes to connect with local organizations during the online Career Fair.
"I'm hoping to see some organizations in the human services field that I could connect with for a placement while I'm a student, since I'm not graduating until December," she said. "In my class, we brainstorm ways to interview in the field, so I'm reviewing previous class work to make sure I'm ready for any questions."
To prepare for a potential interview, students can schedule a mock interview by going to the Career Services homepage and scrolling down to the "Schedule an Appointment" tab.
Steve Wanders, assistant director of Career Services, wants students to take advantage of these opportunities and provides some tips for success.
“Students should still do all of the things they would do for a traditional in-person fair, such as researching the employers, polishing the resume, preparing a strong pitch, dressing professionally, and following up with a thank you note,” he said. “Remember that for the virtual fair, you will have appointments at specified times and you must be ready to take a call or jump on a video chat at the designated time and not be late.”
Tara Bailey, administrative assistant for Career Services, emailed students April 27 with additional steps to prepare for success at the virtual career fair. Some tips include:
- Keep a pen and pad of paper nearby to write down contact information, important details and instructions to follow up after the virtual career fair.
- Prepare your technology — be sure to test your camera, microphone and speakers.
- Ensure you use professional business communication. Many virtual fairs are similar to an online discussion and you will chat with employers as your first contact. Be sure to check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation before you submit your response. This is no time for informal chats or texting language.
Interested students may find instructions for scheduling appointments with recruiters via Handshake.