Industry Networking Information

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• To register for TCNJ’s Virtual Career Fair, log in to your Handshake account.
• Set your Handshake account privacy settings to “COMMUNITY” by clicking on your photo or initials in the top right corner of Handshake and selecting “Settings & Privacy”.
• Click on “Events”, and select the “Career fair” to see upcoming Industry Networking events under the Fairs section.
• Select the Industry Networking event(s) you are interested in, and then “Register”
• Create Your Schedule to connect with Employers.
• To narrow your search by industry, majors, etc., click on “All filters”.
• TIP: Consider finding the employers you are most interested in and research the company to get a better idea of what they’re looking for.

Update Your Handshake Profile 

Make sure your Handshake profile is complete and up-to-date. Your Handshake profile helps you get personalized recommendations for upcoming virtual and in person events. Plus, recruiters use profile fields to find students to invite to their sessions. Do not let an incomplete or out-of-date profile keep you from getting discovered by recruiters.

You can do this by clicking on your photo or initials in the top right corner of Handshake and selecting “My Profile”.

Be sure to update your GPA, major, school year, graduation date, preferred name & pronouns, work experience, work authorization, projects, and more! 

• Select the job types, locations and roles that interest you, so recruiters know which jobs and internships are a good fit for you.
• Watch this 1 minute video from our Instagram on how to update your profile

Prepare Your Resume

Not sure what to include in your resume or how it should be formatted? Check out our  Career Handbook for resume examples.  

After you have made edits to your resume, schedule a 15-minute resume review appointment in Handshake.

If your appointment is online, it is helpful to have your resume in Google Doc to share during your appointment. 

Upload Your Preferred Resume to Handshake.

Upload your resume by clicking on your photo or initials in the top right corner of Handshake and selecting “Documents”. In your Documents section, click “Add New Document” and set it to “Public” for employers to review during the Networking event. 

Check out this YouTube video with step-by-step instructions on how to upload a document to Handshake. 

Plan Your Outfit

It is very important to dress in attire suitable for the workplace and look well-groomed during a Networking event.

Employers recognize when you have taken the time to present yourself in a professional manner. We tend to be more professional when we dress the part.

When planning your Career Fair #OOTD (outfit of the day), here are some things to consider:

Dress professionally from head to toe  (That means wearing professional shoes, too!).

Use simple accessories and stay away from busy patterns.

Wear neat, simple makeup if you feel inclined to wear any.

Research Employers Attending

View the list of employer attendees and use the search filters to find organizations that interest you. Click on the organization name to view the employer profile. 

Visit their website, understand their mission & values, take a look at their open roles, and see what is being said about them in the news. 

Make a list of the organizations you are most excited to connect with during the fair. Refer to this list as you’re browsing the stations at the fair.

Practice Your Pitch 

A simple and effective formula for structuring your response is: present, past, future.

Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is or what you are currently doing in the classroom, the scope of it, and perhaps a recent accomplishment.

Past: Tell the interviewer about your previous experience(s) that are relevant to the job and company you’re applying for.

Future: Segue into what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this role/company (and a great fit for it, too).

This isn’t the only way to build your response, of course; you can tweak it as you see fit. Make sure you ultimately tie it to the job and company.

The Big Day

Maintain eye contact, practice active listening and good manners.  

Ask thoughtful questions based on your company research.

Bring copies of your resume, a notebook, and a pen. Take at least 10 copies of your printed resume on clean paper to hand out to multiple representatives. 

Bring a pen and a small notebook or padfolio. Prepare to take notes on paper so you can refer to these details in your follow-up thank you notes. 

After the Industry Networking

Follow-up with employers via Handshake message or email (see example below).

View and apply to open jobs or internships in Handshake.

Prepare for Interviews using TCNJ Big Interview.

Use Big Interview to learn and practice your interview skills, whether you’re interviewing for a job or graduate school.

Example of a follow-up email:

Subject Line: TCNJ Career Fair Follow-Up

Dear [name of recruiter]:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at TCNJ’s Industry Networking on [insert date] about [insert position title and/or company name]. I enjoyed hearing more about ________________________. I also appreciated learning about __________________, as well as the skills that you look for in a candidate.

Based on our conversation, I believe I would be a great addition to your company due to my _______ skills and my expertise in _________ and _________. [insert company name] seems like a great fit for my personality, values, and career goals. A copy of my resume is attached for your reference. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like to discuss my qualifications further.

Thank you again for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[insert your first & last name]

First Impression:

Introduce Yourself First

Firm Handshake

Eye Contact

Elevator Speech: a quick explanation of your background and experience. It should be short enough to present during a brief elevator ride.

Active Listening

Smile and nod

Ask appropriate questions

Display company knowledge

Connect to the person

The Finish:

Obtain Business Card/Contact Information

Drop off resume

Follow Up:

Send a thank you email that day

If interested, pursue the position by applying on Handshake or the Company’s website

Tips:

You’re always being watched – so be on your best behavior throughout the entire Industry Networking!

Be attentive – your phone should be out of sight

Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes

Activity to Prepare:

Find a partner (someone you don’t already know might be better) to mock a networking interaction 

One partner is the employer; One partner is the student

Practice Giving Elevator Speech & Active Listening

Provide feedback – positives and negatives

After completing both roles, switch partners twice

 

This can also be done in The Office of Career & Leadership Development – we offer mock interviews!!

You may also utilize TCNJ Big Interview