Career Showcase Week

Career Showcase Week is a week-long schedule of career fairs and large networking events for all Georgia Southern students. Prior to this year, Georgia Southern’s large career fairs were held at different times throughout the semester. However, for the first time ever, the entire university is joining together to help host one large week of events. Following this week, additional major-specific networking events and fairs may occur on campus as well. However, this is the largest and most comprehensive opportunity for students in all majors and classifications to connect with employers in all types of industries.

One of the easiest ways to learn about employment opportunities is through networking. Not only are 40% of recruiters who attend our career fair events successful in their careers but they are also alumni of Georgia Southern. As an Eagle yourself, this is a prime opportunity to learn about potential internships and career paths, engage with small and large-scale organizations, and connect with many former Eagles in one place. Oh, and did you know… according to our First Destination Survey over the last two years, Georgia Southern students who attended a career fair at some point during their college experiences made $14,000 a year MORE in starting salary than their peers who did not? That’s a lot of money!

YES!! We always encourage any and all students to attend. Some employers are looking for co-ops and interns as early as the summer between your freshman and sophomore year, so it’s never too early to start getting experience. Additionally, many of the same employers attend career fairs each semester, so making an early impression will make you stand out and be more memorable in future semesters.

Absolutely! Unless specifically written otherwise, alumni of Georgia Southern University, Armstrong State University, and East Georgia State College are actually welcome to attend any career fair or networking event hosted by the Office of Career and Professional Development at Georgia Southern University. For more information about our other events, click here.

We recommend doing the following three things to help ensure you have a successful week:

1. Attend one of our Career Showcase Week prep workshops. (More information about these events will be available in December!)
2. Ensure your résumé is ready for employers and professionally highlights all you have to offer. We recommend using Big Interview’s ResumeAI feature for immediate assistance or making an appointment with one of our Career & Internship Advisors for individualized assistance.
3. Research the employers attending. Visit their websites and learn a little about what they do, what times of positions they might have, and their culture. You can do this and more by looking through the employer list in either Handshake or our Showcase companion app Career Fair Plus.

We recommend bringing LOTS of copies of your résumé. While there are a couple of printers on hand, most of the time there is a long wait to access them. When in doubt, print more copies than you think you’ll need. We recommend around 30. We also suggest bringing your phone with you. While there will be a few paper maps available, the most up-to-date career map will be on Career Fair Plus. This is also a place where you can take notes, learn more about companies you see before walking up to their table, and virtually drop your résumé with organizations you are interested in.

We recommend that all students and alumni who attend wear business professional, however business casual is perfectly acceptable as well. If you don’t have access to professional clothes, consider visiting our free Suited for Success Career Closet available on both the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses.

Yes! We have a courtesy bag check available for all students and alumni. We are happy to safely store your backpacks, skateboards, sports equipment, and band instruments while you visit employers at the fair. You’ll see this station upon arrival.

Our team has a new break area for students with water, professional advice, and overall assistance available at the entrance of the fair. We’re happy to help point you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have. Download the Career Fair Plus app to find us on the interactive map!

Every company is different and so are their recruiters. Some employers might ask for your résumé right away. Others might not. Make sure you have questions or topics to talk about if they want you to ask questions. If you need to practice your elevator pitch, make an appointment with a Career & Internship Advisor, visit us during Drop-in Hours, or practice on VMock.

Some sample questions:

• What are you looking for in a candidate?
• As a first-year student, I have some time to plan ahead. What would you recommend any skills or experience I should gain that would be attractive in this industry?
• What types of projects do interns work on at your organization?
• Can you tell me about your hiring timelines for internships/full-time positions?

The large majority expect a firm handshake, eye contact, and interest in learning about their company and its opportunities. Be able to introduce yourself and be knowledgeable about their organization. Also, be sensitive to a recruiter’s time at a fair. If there is a long line, make sure you are being concise and considerate.

If you received contact information from the recruiter, be sure to send a thank you email within 24 hours of the fair. Follow up on any information requested or any follow up questions you ask. Be sure to reference something specific in your conversation to allow the recruiter to remember you. Even if you do not receive a response back, be sure to send a thank you message.

First of all, congrats! The OCPD has a ton of resources for you to use. Here is a digital worksheet that can help guide you through the preparation process. Also, if you’d like to practice your interview, you can utilize VMock for free on your phone or computer and receive real-time AI feedback so that you are ready to go.

Not a problem at all. You can do this in a few different ways! When you check into the fair, a record of your attendance will be in your Handshake profile. The next day, a record of your attendance will also show up on Eagle Engage. If you have any questions or concerns about this, reach out to the OCPD at ocpd@georgiasouthern.edu. The most important thing is that you check-in at the fair. If you do that, we can assist you from there!

Absolutely! A record of your attendance at all Career Showcase Week events will be added to Eagle Engage on Friday, February 23. If you have questions or concerns, or you notice your attendance is not reflected in Eagle Engage, contact us at ocpd@georgiasouthern.edu.

That’s okay and happens sometimes! Everyone doesn’t connect with everyone else. That doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to offer or that your next career fair experience won’t be positive. If you’d like to share your concerns, reach out to our team at ocpd@georgiasouthern.edu or make an appointment with your Career & Internship Advisor to debrief your experience.