2023 SCAD Career Fair Prep

We are less than a month away from the annual SCAD Career Fair, which, this year, will be happening Friday, February 24th, from noon to 4 pm. If it is your first time or your fourth, this experience can be slightly nerve-wracking. This campus event is about making connections and crafting your career, which is a big deal! However, there is no need to panic; there are plenty of resources at SCAD that can help you prepare for this big event. In this article, I will walk you through the steps you can take to feel 100% ready on the big day!

 Each year, the Career Fair is slightly different, with new companies, new recruiters, and new approaches. For example, this year, the Career Fair is entirely virtual. It will happen through the Career Fair Plus website. This place is where you should begin your Career Fair prep.

1. First, you need to create an account to access the main page where the Career Fair will happen. When you click “Sign Up” on the login page, click Student or Candidate to start the process. 

To create your profile, the page will ask for your name, contact information, and to create a password. Then, towards the bottom of the page, you can select whether you want all employers to connect with you or just those participating at your fairs.

2. Once you are logged in, you get the option to browse the organization for your career fair. Type: SCAD to access the Career Fair.

3. You will see different options for the SCAD career fair. The first two are Mockup Career Fairs that will be happening on February 10th and 17. Here, campus staff will be playing the role of recruiters, and you can practice with them the conversations you can potentially have during the career fair. Remember, recruiters want to learn about you, so use your time wisely to practice “your time to shine”.

You can book a one-on-one practice session today by clicking on the recruiter’s name and the time slot available, then pick the time that works best for you!

4. When you click SCAD Career Fair below the 2 Mock Career Fairs in the main menu, you will have access to the website where it will take place. Here you can browse the companies that will be participating and add the ones you are interested in to your favorites by clicking the star. You can also filter your search on the left side of the screen based on major, position, class level, software/tech. skills, professional skills, personal skills, and state.

5.  When you select the company you are interested in, on the right side of the screen, you can see information about it, its website, the majors that are recruiting, and the position type they are offering (full job, part-time job, or internship). In addition, each company provides more detail on what they are looking for in a candidate.

In this section, you can also drop your resume at the top right corner for recruiters to review. 

6. Some companies have group panels and 15-minute one-on-one sessions with recruiters. You can view the time slots, recruiter, and schedule in the company information section of the website. You can also access the meeting here on the day of the event.

If you wish to have a one-on-one session with recruiters, make sure to reserve your space on Tuesday, January 31st, at 9 am.  

7. Research is one of the most important things you should do before the Career Fair and booking your appointment. Career Fair Plus is the best place to start that process. You should research the company, its most recent achievements, and the recruiters you will be talking with. 

8. Apart from doing your research, it is highly recommended that you meet with your Career Advisor so they can help you build your resume and portfolio and prepare you for that great day. 

9. Finally, on the day of the event, make sure to set up your space and dress up nicely. Remember, you want to leave a good first impression. Being prepared is the best way you can do so. 

Now that you have the tools to begin your Career Fair Preparation, you can start little by little crafting your future. Even if you don’t land a job or an internship during this event, it is the best opportunity to make connections! So don’t worry, you will do great! If you want to learn more about Career Fair, make sure to attend one of the Career Fair 101 workshops through the SCAD Job portal and meet with your SCAD Career Advisor.