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.

Want some help with your pitch? Watch the Crafting Your Elevator Pitch webinar recording.