The University of Florida’s Career Showcase, hosted by the Career Connections Center, takes place Sept. 27-30. As of yesterday, UF students and alumni can register for virtual appointments with employers here. Or, find a list of employers attending the fair in person here.
Career Showcase is the largest career fair in the southeast and has been a staple at UF since the 1980s, said Angel Iverson, director for career foundations at the Career Connections Center. Although it’s held twice a year, the fall fair tends to be larger than the one in spring, partly because many companies hire now for roles that start in the summer.
“We encourage all students regardless of year or major to attend,” Iverson said. “These employers come back year after year and they tell stories of students that they remember meeting two years ago. It’s fascinating how much they remember our students, so it’s never too early for them to build those connections.”
Employers across industries – including Amazon, AmeriCorps, Lockheed Martin, Scripps Research and major travel companies – will attend the fair, where students can learn more about full-time, part-time and internship positions.
Career Showcase will be held via the Career Fair Plus app Sept. 27 and 30 and at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Sept. 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Those seeking careers in non-technical fields such as accounting, management, government, finance, hospitality, healthcare and communications should plan to attend on Sept. 27 and 28, while those seeking careers in technical fields such as engineering, architecture, programming and research should attend Sept. 29 and 30. Attendees don’t need appointments to meet with employers in person.
On Career Fair Plus, attendees can schedule one-on-one live chats or video calls with recruiters and sort employers by the experience level they’re seeking and the open positions they offer. In addition to finding a full list of employers attending the fair on the app, students can also view a map of booths in the O’Connell Center on the fair’s in-person days.
At the O’Connell Center, students don’t need to register ahead of time to meet with employers. The above map is available on the Career Fair Plus mobile app. UF Career Connections Center image
Different employers are registered to attend the fair virtually and in-person, so students should try to attend in-person and virtually, tailoring their resumes to their top companies while staying open-minded, Iverson said.
“You never know what kind of opportunity you’re going to stumble upon that may be a right fit for you,” she said.
She added that attendees should nail down a summary of their background, relevant experience and interests – called an “elevator pitch” – and review their resumes with career coaches. Time slots with recruiters will continue to become available until Sept. 30, so registrants should continue to check Career Fair Plus for appointments.
Although Career Showcase is among the most popular networking events the Career Connections Center hosts, Iverson said students shouldn’t be intimidated.
“Know that these employers are really excited to meet you. They look forward to this event and love meeting UF students,” she said. “Recruiters were once in your position as a student, so they can empathize with you.”
At the O’Connell Center, employers’ booths will be spaced to encourage social distancing. Attendees are expected to wear masks.
“We’re excited to host Career Showcase in the O’Connell Center again, we’ve taken many measures to support the health and safety of our attendees,” said Ja’Net Glover, senior director for career services.
The Career Connections Center recommends students attend the fair in business professional attire for both virtual and in-person meetings. Students can borrow business professional outfits from the Molm Family Gator Career Closet, located in the Reitz Union. Gator 1 Cards are required to borrow clothing and to enter the O’Connell Center during Career Showcase.
Learn more about Career Showcase – and check the FAQ at the bottom of the page.
Learn more about the Career Connections Center.
Writer: Halle Marchese, hmarchese@ufl.edu
Sources: Angel Iverson, aiverson@ufl.edu; Ja’Net Glover, jglover@ufsa.ufl.edu
