The University of Idaho’s Spring Career Fair will occur on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 1-5 p.m. in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
Each semester, UI’s Career Services organizes the Career Fair, as well as a variety of events leading up to it, that students can use to prepare. Past events have included resumé-centered workshops and Joe’s Closet, an event distributing free professional clothing.
Upcoming are the college-specific networking nights, which are highly recommended by Eric Anderson, the associate director for employer relations, experiential learning and events at UI and part of the team organizing the Career Fair.
“At the fair it could be all employers, all industries… If you’re a CLASS major, the employers at CLASS Networking Night are ones that specifically want to talk to CLASS majors. It’s a really great chance to practice, and you get a chance to see employers twice,” Anderson explained.
Additionally, Feb. 9 and 10 are what Anderson refers to as the “Career Fair blitz.” During the blitz, students can walk into Career Services during their hours of operation and ask for help or guidance regarding preparation for the event, whether this means perfecting their resumé or dealing with nervousness.
“Even if you’re not sure if you’re looking or you need to bring five friends with you to build up the confidence to come, please come [to the fair],” Anderson stated. “You don’t have to talk to anybody, you can just walk around, but we’ll also have career advisors… that can help you if you are a little bit nervous, or you’re not prepared or maybe want to practice your pitch in front of us before you go in.”
Anderson recommends that even students that aren’t searching for a job or are in their first or second year of schooling attend. He emphasizes that the benefit of the Career Fair is not just finding a job but also getting practice speaking to prospective employers. In addition, it allows students to become more aware of the opportunities afforded to them.
“A lot of our employers, in reality, are open to all majors,” he said.
Students should dress professionally and bring copies of their resumé with them to the Career Fair. At the event, they will be given a name badge with a sticker that corresponds to their college so that employers can identify them more easily. Free professional headshots will also be available.
There will be 125 employers at the event, according to Anderson. Students can find a list of these employers and register for the event on Handshake, though registration is not necessary. More information about the event can be found on the Career Services’ website, along with a pamphlet to help students get ready for it.
Cal Torres can be reached at [email protected]