Career Fairs - Students and Alumni | Career Services | Illinois Institute of Technology

Upcoming Fairs | Virtual Career Fairs | Your Professional Image | Student Org Collaboration

Career Fairs and other recruiting events are a great opportunity to meet representatives of companies looking to hire talented employees—including Illinois Tech students and graduates. At Career Fairs you also can get tips about finding a great job from students who are getting ready to graduate or alumni who are back to recruit more outstanding talent. See our News and Events page or log into Handshake to see upcoming recruitment events!

Upcoming Career Fairs

Campus-wide career fairs at Illinois Tech

Our campus-wide career fairs are held each semester, and are two days, separated by general industry groupings to allow for more companies to attend and make connections with more students and alumni. See photos from previous Career Fairs on our Flickr account.

The Fall 2020 Career Fair will be held virtually through the InternX platform. Students and employers will schedule 10-minute video conversations, with employers able to pre-select candidates two weeks in advance of the fair. Be sure to create your profile early!

Fall 2020 VIrtual Career Fair Details
September 29 and 30, 2020
InternX Platform
10 a.m.-6 p.m. by appointment

The industries below are general categories. Make sure to check employer lists on Handshake or InternX prior to the fair in order to see which companies are attending and what kind of students they are hiring. Students and alumni can attend any or both days.

WEDNESDAY, September 29

Computer Science
Information Technology
Business Services
Government
Non-Profit
Military
Search firms

THURSDAY, September 30

Engineering
Industrial Technology
Architecture
Natural Sciences

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREPARE for virtual career fairs?

Do your research. Browse the Virtual Career Fair online space to become familiar with how it works. Review the participating employers and what types of jobs they have available. Go to company websites, social media pages and check to see if they've had any recent news releases. This will help you be more savvy and energized in the conversation and showcase why you're a good fit for the job.
Update your resume and social media accounts. When you register you'll fill out an online profile including your resume. Make sure it's clear, concise and up-to-date. Have a copy handy for you to refer to during interviews. Be sure to scrub your online profiles of any "unprofessional" posts or photos.
Type some notes. Save some time and prepare your introduction and pre-write some questions in advance. (Ask about the company culture, upcoming changes, special projects, etc.)
Keep conversations focused and professional. Your goal is connect with all the companies on your list. These are live chat conversations, so be aware of typos and avoid emoticons. Post sticky notes on your desk to remind you of three main selling points about yourself.
Dress professional for a video-based chat! The May Career Fair will be video-based, so be prepared to have video-based discussions with employers. Also, be sure to plan your backdrop and space to reduce the possibilities for distractions - you don't want to have pets barking or roommates making noise in the background if it can be avoided!

Chicago-area career fairs (year-round)

Students who take the initiative in their job search are more successful. In addition to using your existing network, see what networking and job fair events are taking place in your city and put yourself in front of the people who are hiring. Below are external websites listing a variety of job fair events by location.

Student Registration and Attendance

Student are encouraged to have a resume that has been reviewed and approved by Career Services.
While not a requirement for this fair, a refined resume makes a huge impression on employers and will give you better opportunities to land an interview!
Students who complete the VIP Program will have early, exclusive access to employers

Why? This is an opportunity for students to set themselves apart to employers by preparing for future employment prior to graduating.

Preparation

Success is a direct result of preparation. Make sure you take time to prepare for your employer interactions at Career Fairs. Here a few ways to prepare:

Update your resume
Improve your LinkedIn profile
Research companies of interest
Prepare and rehearse a short introduction
Plan your professional wardrobe
Become a Career Fair VIP

View our complete Career Fair Checklist

Career Fair VIP Program

Set yourself apart ...
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Become a Career Fair VIP!

The VIP Program helps students be better prepared to speak to employers at the Career Fair and will draw employers’ attention to students’ resumes. It gives students early access to engagement of employers for both in-person and virtual career fairs.

learn more about the VIP Program

Virtual Career Fairs

Virtual career fairs are a great opportunity for students to participate in meaningful conversations with companies and learn about their culture, job requirements, and more. It’s an unintimidating way to pursue opportunities, learn about companies, network, and perfect an elevator pitch, all through short, easy, text-based chats.

See our events calendar.

Professional Image

STYLE GUIDELINES

Professional dress is highly recommended for the campus-wide Career Fair. Jeans, t-shirts, casual shoes (sneakers), shorts, and hats* are discouraged and we will certainly discuss with any student dressed inappropriately the negative impact their dress will have on their chances of making a good impression with a company. (*We do not discriminate against headwear worn for religious or cultural identity.) For more details, see the Illinois Tech Career Fair Style Guide or contact the Office of Campus Life.

PROFESSIONAL PORTRAITS

Career Services often invites a professional photographer to take professional portraits for students and alumni in the week before or week of the campus-wide career fairs, free of charge. Professional portraits can be accessed below. Password required!

The password to see the photographs is the semester and date (e.g. fall2016).

Student Organization Customized Career Events

Career Services invites student organizations to partner with us. Our active and collaboration will benefit your student organization by creating special connections with Career Services, Alumni Affairs, employers, graduate school representatives and other professionals. We will work with your student leadership and membership to create a set of activities and opportunities to help your organization develop bridges and multiple pathways into the workplace with personalized workshops, opportunities to co-sponsor events, and co-host panels. We strongly encourage student groups to collaborate in their partnership with us throughout the year. Read more below, and the submit a request to collaborate: Career Services Networking Request Form.

More information