Get Prepared for the GVSU Career and Internship Fair


Join us at the premier GVSU career event of the semester!

Wednesday, October 9, 2024
1-5pm
DeVos Place Convention Center
303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI

Handshake Registration

The Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni of all majors! 230 employers with THOUSANDS of immediate openings are expected to attend.

Attend the Career Fair to:

  • meet with employers to discuss full-time positions
  • learn about available internships and co-ops
  • build your professional network and expand your job search
     

View Participating Employers 

Lead Sponsor


View Participating Employers by Career Community


Before the Fair

Get Prepared

Career Fair Prep Events

Career Fair Prep Night (presented by AMA)
Tuesday, October 8
5:30-7:30pm
DeVos 105E (Hager-Lubbers)

CareerLab

Drop in to CareerLab to get your resume or Handshake profile reviewed, practice your elevator pitch or get answers to your career fair questions.
 

Resume Printing

resume guide and hand

Stop into either Career Center location to print resumes on resume paper prior to the fair. This service is FREE and provided by our CareerLab employer sponsors.

Taking the Bus from the Pew Campus to DeVos Place

going from pew campus to devos place

Parking is not provided at this event, therefore students are highly encouraged to walk from the Pew Campus or take the Laker Line (get off at the DeVos Place stop).

Never attended a career fair? Take a peek!

Career Fair Tour

Get Ready to Participate

  • Register - Register for the Fair in Handshake.          
    GVSU Fall Career and Internship Fair
  • Update your resume - be sure to bring along hard copies to the fair (Need help? Stop by CareerLab).
  • Do your research – Check out the list of attending employers and figure out which organizations you are interested in and spend time doing some research on them. What information does their website or Handshake have? What types of positions do they have available?  How do your skills and experiences match what they’re looking for?
  • Download the Handshake app - the career fair event within the app has information on participating employers as well as a map of where they are located in the ballroom at DeVos Place.
  • Develop questions - Narrow down your list of organizations then list some questions you would like to ask the representative at the fair.
  • Prepare an introduction - Having a polished 30-second or less speech to introduce yourself to the employer will help you to initiate conversation.  In your introduction, you should include your name, major/minor(s), year in school, career goals, and why you are interested in the particular organization. Listen to our podcast episode on How to Introduce Yourself which includes lots of great tips!
  • Prepare what you'll wear - plan to dress for success: suits are not required, but dress in the best you have

Day of the Fair
  • Engage! Put all that preparation to work. Introduce yourself with the intro you practiced, ask the questions you've prepared, and listen. Remember, this is a conversation, so be yourself. The amount of time you have with each employer may vary, so be sure to put it to good use.
  • Track names for follow-up - It is always a good idea to keep track of the employers you spoke to. This will allow you to follow up with that person in the future. You can ask them for their business card or email address.
  • Stop by our Ready Room - A place for students to get advice, input, and encouragement from career advisors, ask any last-minute questions, take a break from the fair, and enjoy some refreshments

After the Fair
  • Follow up - Sending a thank-you note (email) is important in creating a good lasting impression. The note should be personalized to include details from your conversation that stuck out to you. You can also use it to highlight or re-emphasize details about your background/experiences and how they tie to the position. You can stay connected using LinkedIn. Interviewing & Networking Resources

Resources

Social Media

Follow @gvsucareers on Instagram and TikTok for plenty of tips, employer videos, and practical information to help you have a successful career fair.

Work Like a Laker Podcast

Listen to podcast episodes that will help you prepare for the career fair:
Avoid the Awkward: How to Introduce Yourself
How to Follow-Up After Career Fair
Career Fair Etiquette

Helpful Videos

Career Fair Sponsors

Lead Sponsor

Blue Sponsors

Black Sponsors




Page last modified October 2, 2024