Expand Your Network

Networking can take many forms, but at its core, it aims to cultivate mutually beneficial professional relationships strategically. Effective networking is essential; whether attending insightful guest lectures on campus, connecting with influential industry professionals at career fairs or on LinkedIn, or reaching out to a former supervisor, each interaction presents a valuable opportunity to expand your network and advance your career. Embrace these opportunities to maximize your professional growth and success.

Think about it: from family and community ties to professors, coworkers, and fellow club members, you possess a vast network of connections that you may not fully appreciate. These relationships can open doors and provide support in ways you might not expect.

• Craft an elevator pitch!
• Attend career fairs and events hosted by WVU Career Services.
• Join WVU student organizations or clubs.
• Join industry-related professional organizations such as the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
• Connect in person or virtually with Alumni through events, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.
• Volunteer and intern with organizations that are relevant to your career goals to build relationships with professionals and gain hands-on experience. 
• Create and periodically update your profiles on Handshake and LinkedIn.

• Introduce Yourself: Greet the employer with a smile and firm handshake. Briefly state your name and what you’re currently studying (or recent graduate). 
• Highlight Relevant Skills and Experiences: Focus on skills learned in your coursework, extracurricular activities, or part-time jobs. 
• Connect to the Opportunity: Show how your skills and experience align with the potential employer’s needs or the specific position. 
• Express Interest and Ask a Question: End with a question to show your interest and engage in further conversation. 

Examples:

Student with limited experience

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a [Year] at [University Name], majoring in [Major]. I’m really interested in [Field of Interest] and have taken several courses in [Relevant Courses]. I’m also involved in [Extracurricular Activity] where I’ve learned about [Relevant Skill]. I’m looking for an internship or entry-level position where I can apply these skills and contribute to your organization. Can you tell me more about [Specific Opportunity]?

Student with more experience

“Hello, I’m [Your Name], a [Year] at [University Name] studying [Major]. I’m currently an intern at [Organization] where I’ve been working on [Specific Project]. I’m passionate about [Specific Area] and have experience in [Relevant Skills]. I’m looking for opportunities to further develop my skills and contribute to [Company Name]. Can you tell me more about any internship or entry-level positions you might have open? 

Student with a unique skill

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a [Year] at [University Name], studying [Major]. I’m also the president of the [Club/Organization] where I’ve developed strong leadership and communication skills. I’m particularly interested in [Specific Area] and have a strong understanding of [Relevant Skills]. I’m looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in a dynamic environment. Can you tell me more about your company and any potential internship or entry-level positions?

Tips for Creating Your Elevator Pitch

• Practice: Rehearse your pitch multiple times to make it sound natural. 
• Keep it Brief: Aim for a 30-second pitch. 
• Use Simple Language: Avoid jargon and technical terms that might be confusing. 
• Be Enthusiastic: Show your passion for your field and the opportunity. 
• Be Prepared to Adapt: Adjust your pitch based on the specific person and situation. 
• Have a Business Card Ready: It’s a great way to follow up with your contact information

Before the career fair

1. Do your research

Before attending a fair, check which employers are attending and do some basic research. Start by reading through their page on Handshake to get an overview of the organization, see students’ reviews, and find out if the open roles match your career interests. Then, expand your research by looking at the company website, and doing a quick online search for recent news articles, press releases and other information.

Make sure to check out the open jobs and internships on the employer’s Handshake page. They are looking for students to hire at career fairs, so chances are they’ll want to discuss current opportunities with you.

2. Prepare some questions

Asking good questions is an easy way to start a conversation, shows that you’re prepared and motivated, and can give you new insight into the company. Have a short list of questions ready about company culture, professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, or anything else you want to learn about. Check out this post for a ton of examples!

3. Practice introducing yourself

You don’t need a perfect speech, but you do need a confident intro when starting a conversation with employers. Check out this post to get a better idea of how an elevator pitch works at these events.

4. Pick your outfit

Business casual is your best bet. You don’t need to wear a suit, but you should absolutely skip sweats or athleisure. And wear comfortable shoes!

Tip: Some campus career centers offer a professional closet where you can borrow a career fair outfit.

Day of the career fair

5. Come prepared

Bring a notebook or printouts with info about the employers you’re planning to meet. And bring several hard copies of your resume.

6. Take notes

Get the contact information of the people you talk to so you can follow up after the fair. And don’t forget to jot down notes about your conversation—it will make for much stronger follow-up!

7. Eavesdrop!

If you’re still early in your career, or you are feeling intimidated by the career fair format, you can still find value in observing. As you approach employers, listen in on other conversations: how do other students introduce themselves? What is their body language conveying? Who seems to be having the most success? You can use these observations in the future as you get more comfortable at these events.

Following up after your career fair

8. Follow employers on Handshake

If you clicked with an employer, go to their Handshake page and click Follow. You’ll receive notifications when they post new jobs and events. Plus, when the employer views your profile, they can see that you follow them.

9. Apply to an open job or internship

If you discussed a specific opportunity with the employer, get ready to send your application.

If you didn’t discuss a job, see what jobs they have posted on Handshake and apply to any that interest you. If you need a little time to get your application ready, save the job you like so you’ll get a notification to apply before the deadline.

10. Send a thank you email

If the employer shared their contact info, plan to send a follow-up email within 24 hours (or less!). Begin your email by thanking them for their time and telling them you enjoyed meeting them. Then, include something specific that you liked discussing or learning about. Finally, let them know what next steps you’re taking, such as applying for a job.

Courtesy of Handshake, Inc.