DePaul's virtual Winter Career Fair is set for Wednesday, Feb. 23. The Career Center has lined up nearly 100 employers from various industries recruiting for jobs and internships. All students and alumni are welcome to attend.
To prepare for the day's event and help students stand out to employers, the Career Center has outlined some top tips on how to prepare for a virtual career or networking event.
Learn about the employer
Do some research on the employer. Start by reading through their Handshake page, where you'll get an overview of the organization, see student reviews and check out the open jobs and internships. Go through their company website and do an online search for recent news articles, press releases and other relevant information. Spending some time before the session to learn more will pay off because it shows the employer your interest in their organization and in getting a job.
Create a list of questions
Now that you have more information, you can start writing your list of questions. Take time to think about what interests you the most about this employer. What do you want to learn more about? What qualities are important to you in a potential employer? What will help you decide if they are a good fit for you?
Know when to ask questions
There are group and one-on-one sessions during virtual career fairs. If you're attending a group session, make sure to wait for the host to announce that it's time for questions. Depending on the session, you may have an opportunity to ask your question on video or type it into the chat. One-on-one sessions are an open conversation with the employer, so you should feel free to ask questions as you go.
Learn more about developing questions and get examples on the Hire DePaul website.
Prepare your virtual “elevator pitch"
One of the best things you can do ahead of any virtual event is to prepare a few talking points to succinctly make the case about why you're a great candidate.
Your pitch should be one minute or less. The key to an impactful elevator pitch is to stay short and sweet. Focus on the skills and qualifications that'll make you uniquely appealing to your audience; give top-level bullet points about what makes you an awesome candidate.
When it comes to your elevator pitch, practice makes perfect. You might feel silly running through a 30-second spiel about yourself, but becoming confident in your delivery can make a huge difference when you're face-to-face with a recruiter. Aim for your pitch to be brief, persuasive, and confident—not boastful. Practice with a trusted family member or friend.
Typically, it's a best practice to have a business card or a copy of your resume to hand off after delivering your elevator pitch during an in-person career fair. However, since you'll be meeting recruiters during virtual fairs, have a link to your Handshake profile handy to send via chat. If relevant, you can also share a digital portfolio during this time.
Learn more about developing your elevator pitch and get examples on the Hire DePaul website.