Virtual job fairs on Handshake allow employers to meet with you in group sessions or one-on-ones. While you can sign up for group sessions up to one minute before the start time, we recommend planning ahead and signing up early! Once a session has started, you'll be unable to sign up for it.

Decide which employers you want to talk to, pre-schedule your one-on-ones and group sessions, research organizations, and plan what questions you'll ask.

You'll also want to make time to work on your Handshake profile. Pay attention to the following settings:  

• Privacy - Read carefully to understand how your privacy settings in Handshake will affect your ability to participate in the fair. Your privacy is important to us.

  • To register for fair sessions or meetings, your Handshake privacy settings must be set to either Community or Employer.
  • The Community setting provides full fair participation by letting you register for group sessions and one-on-one meetings. It also makes your profile visible to employers, students, and alumni across all Handshake colleges and universities.
  • The Employer setting provides partial fair participation by letting you register for one-on-one sessions only. It also makes your profile visible to all employers in Handshake. Students and alumni at other Handshake colleges and universities cannot see your profile.
  • Students cannot register for the fair with the Private setting selected. However, students who prefer this setting can easily re-select it at the conclusion of the fair.
  • Employers participating in the fair cannot access a broad list of participants. They can only access lists of students who interact with them directly during the fair.

• GPA - Employers may set a GPA requirement for one-on-one sessions. Consider adding your cumulative GPA to your Handshake profile to maximize your eligibility for one-on-one sessions. First-year students, use your most recent high school or undergrad GPA. Update your GPA under Profile > Education. 

• Work authorization  - When registering for sessions, you may have to answer questions about work authorization. Regardless of how you answer, you'll be able to participate in the fair.

• Review Handshake's guides to attending a virtual fair, signing up for & managing virtual fair sessions, participating in a virtual fair, and the platform's video requirements

When you speak with employers at the fair, you want to give a short pitch that sets you apart and quickly summarizes your skills and interest in their organization.

Watch our Crafting Your Elevator Pitch webinar and practice your pitch using Big Interview (Handshake log-in required).