Due to restrictions on visitors to campus in early Fall, WVU Career Services will host the Fall Career Fairs as a virtual series of events during the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 2.
“As many companies have moved to remote work to fight the coronavirus pandemic and our students and staff are returning to campus in a hybrid model, after careful consideration moving career fairs online appeared the best way to move forward for our fall recruitment,” said David Durham, director for Career Services. “While career fairs are going to look a little different this semester, we are moving full speed ahead because employers are still eager to connect with our students."
The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports by a large margin (43 percent to 7 percent), employers plan to increase their use of virtual methods to recruit the class of 2021.
To help streamline the employer experience and maximize exposure to students from across campus, traditional in-person career fairs have been restructured to fit the virtual environment. The Agriculture and Natural Sciences Career and Internship Fair will take place on Sept. 29, while the WVU Career and Internship Fair on Sept. 30 will be paired with the Chambers College of Business and Economics Career Fair (originally scheduled for Sept. 16) and the Health Careers and Internship Fair (originally scheduled for Nov. 12), and finally, the STEM Career and Internship Fair on Oct. 1. Employers will have the opportunity to chat with interested students, host information sessions, and schedule interviews with candidates all on a virtual platform.
The career fairs will be hosted on Career Services’ current job search platform, Handshake. All WVU students and employers already have Handshake accounts and are familiar with the platform. Students log in using their WVUID username and password, creating an accessible way for students to interact directly with employers. The platform will support video conferencing, as well as audio and text-only options.
“Even as companies are getting up to speed on doing business virtually, and some job openings have been put on hold, it is important that students and alumni still actively work on their job search,” said Rachael Conrad, assistant director of Employer Relations. “While it is ideal to maintain the personal connections gained in the typical career fair experience, the virtual career fair solution will ensure the best use of students and employers time while providing a safe and effective event.”
Keep informed about employers registering to attend the career fairs.
From internship and career fairs to interview coaching and resume reviews, Career Services remains available to help students online. To schedule a virtual appointment, email careerservices@mail.wvu.edu.