UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s Fall Career Days will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 21, 22 and 23. The career fair provides students and recent alumni the opportunity to engage with employers from all over the country and across a variety of industries. More information about this year’s event can be found on the Fall Career Days website.
"No matter where a student is in their career development journey, there are many benefits to attending a career fair,” said Brooke Owen, career development assistant and mentoring program coordinator, College of Health and Human Development. “Attending the career fair allows students to practice presenting themselves in a professional manner, expand their network, and identify additional career paths and opportunities.”
This year’s fair will offer both virtual and in-person options. The in-person event day is specifically tailored to graduating seniors and recent alumni looking for full-time positions. The virtual days are open to all students. For the in-person day, masking is required in accordance to Penn State’s requirements.
· Sept. 21: In-person, full-time recruitment, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park Campus (ALL MAJORS)
· Sept. 22: Virtual, all positions and majors (ALL MAJORS)
· Sept. 23: Virtual, internship and co-op recruitment (ALL MAJORS)
Since many companies and organizations still have travel restrictions, the hybrid fair allows for a more robust fair.
"The hybrid format offers the most inclusivity and accessibility for all students and employers,” said Bob Orndorff, senior director, Career Services. For the in-person component, we wanted to offer one day of full-time recruiting so that graduating seniors have one last chance to experience an in-person fair at our Bryce Jordan Center.”
Orndorff stated that the virtual options allow more commonwealth and World Campus students to participate in the fair.
“We're also excited to offer two virtual components to all Penn State students,” said Orndorff. “Over 20% of students outside of University Park attended our 2021 virtual spring career fair, compared to approximately 5% in years previous."
Students can prepare for the fair by learning about the companies attending the fair, preparing their resume, creating an elevator pitch, and dressing professionally. If students plan to attend the virtual fair day, they can learn about using the platform ahead of time. Registration is required for the virtual day. Students can also take advantage of virtual and on-demand Career Fair Prep Workshops on everything from cover letter and resume prep to interviewing and networking tips. The Professional Attire Closet in the Bank of America Career Services building is a great option for students who are looking for professional clothing to attend the fair.
“Regardless of the event format, students need to take time to prepare in advance. Students who have the most success at Fall Career Days are those who have prepared a solid resume and elevator pitch, researched the employers who plan to attend, and identified their top employers of interest beforehand so they can make the most of their time at the event,” said Carmen Bilén, associate director, Engineering Career Resources and Employer Relations.
The career fair is a collaboration between Career Services, a unit of Penn State Student Affairs and college career offices. More information on the career fair and other upcoming programs can be found at studentaffairs.psu.edu/career.