Connect with Employers and Alumni
The Career Center hosts large career and internship fairs as well as smaller industry-specific fairs and networking events to connect Boston College students with alumni and employers. Fairs and networking events are an opportunity to discover different industries and organizations and make connections in person. All events can be found in Handshake.
Career and Internship Fairs
The Career Center hosts career and internship fairs to connect students directly with employers looking to recruit Boston College talent. We host two large fairs at the start of each semester that cover a wide range of industries. We also host smaller, industry-specifc fairs for students with more targeted interests.
For the 2020–21 academic year, all fairs will be hosted virtually on Handshake.
Upcoming Fairs:
Spring Career and Internship Fair
Friday, February 26, 2021
1:00–5:00 p.m. EST
Registration opens in Handshake on February 8
Health and Sciences Career and Internship Fair
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
12:00–3:00 p.m. EST
Registration opens in Handshake on January 25
Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair
February 2021
Date and Time TBD
ACC/SEC Virtual Career Fair*
April 6, 2021
Time TBD
*Fair will be hosted on Career Eco
Social Services Recruitment Fair
April 2021
Date and Time TBD
Fall Career and Internship Fair
September 2021
Date and Time TBD
Steps to Prepare
Complete your Handshake profile
You must have a complete Handshake profile before registering for the event. Use our Handshake guide to get started.
Research attending employers
View the list of attending employers in the Handshake event to see who you might want to connect with. Check back often for new employer registrations.
Register for the fair
You must register for the fair in order to attend. Registration open dates will be announced via the weekly student newsletter.
Sign up for sessions
Once you register for the event, you will be able to schedule one-on-one and group sessions with employers. All schedules are booked on a first-come, first-served bases.
What to expect:
During virtual career fairs, you will have the opportunity to learn about employers at group sessions and/or connect directly with recruiters during one-on-one sessions.
- Group Sessions: 30-minute group meetings that accommodate up to 50 students each. Recruiters will share information about their organization and potential opportunities. While you do not need to register for group sessions before the event, we highly recommend registering early to guarantee your spot.
- One-on-One Sessions: 10-minute meetings with recruiters. You will have the opportunity to introduce yourself and ask questions about the organization. You must register for one-on-one sessions before the day of the event. Sessions are limited and booked on a first-come, first-served basis. We highly recommend registering early to guarantee your spot.
How to register:
You can find and register for fairs on Handshake. Visit bc.joinhandshake.com/events and filter by "Career Fairs." All students wishing to participate in the fair must have a Handshake profile and must register for the event in Handshake.
Once you register for the event, you will be able to schedule one-on-one and group sessions with employers. All schedules are booked on a first-come, first-served bases. We highly recommend you research employers on Handshake prior to the opening of registration so you are prepared to schedule your sessions.
Resources to Prepare:
Get career fair-ready:
- Virtual Career Fairs Are Here! Next Stop: Getting Hired
- Attending a Virtual Career Fair? Here Are 10 Tips You Need to Know
- How to Prepare Your Virtual Career Fair “Elevator Pitch”
- How to Prepare for Virtual 1-on-1 Sessions
- How to Impress Employers at Virtual Events
- The 3 Must-Haves on Your Handshake Profile
Networking Events
The Career Center hosts industry-specific networking events throughout the year to provide students the opportunity to explore career fields of interest, gain insight, make connections, and build their network. Below is a summary of major networking events. You can find all events listed in Handshake.
Schedule of Major Events:
- Nursing Career Night, October 2020
- Careers in Nonprofits Week, October 2020
- Careers in International Affairs Week, October 2020
- Arts and Entertainment Week, November 2020
- Endeavor (for all industries), January 13-15, 2021
- Bank Week, February 1-5, 2021
- Sports Business Society Networking Night, February 2021
- Media and Communications Night, March 2021
What is the difference between a career fair and a networking event?
While both events provide an opportunity to network and make connections, a career fair is designed to help students make connections with recruiters who are seeking to fill full-time or internship roles. Networking events are more informational and designed to help students explore career fields of interest.
How to Prepare
- Set goals: Knowing what you want to accomplish will help you stay focused at the event. Are you interested in learning more about a specific field or position? Are you hoping to connect with professionals from a specific organization? Think through your goals so that you feel prepared with a plan.
- Do your homework: If a list of attendees is available, make sure you read through it to understand with whom you’d like to connect. Do some research on persons/employers of interest so that you feel ready to converse with them.
- Practice your elevator pitch: An elevator pitch is a 30 second “personal commercial” detailing your interests and experience. An effective elevator pitch highlights your skills, qualifications, professional goals, and allows someone to connect with you over a shared interest. It also helps to end with a question to help lead into a conversation.
Example: I’m currently a junior at Boston College majoring in psychology and communication. I recently took a class on strategic communication, and am fascinated by the ways in which corporations communicate with their employees to create culture. I’m hoping to intern this summer in some sort of corporate communication role to get a sense of what that looks like as a career path. I read that you worked in internal communications at LL Bean. That sounds very interesting.Can you tell me more about your role within the organization and what your typical day looks like?
At the Event:
- Dress professionally: Business attire is recommended for career fairs, while business casual is often appropriate for networking events, employer information sessions, panel discussions, informational interviews, and other presentations.
- Start conversations: Remember your goals, approach people of interest, and start conversations with your elevator pitch.
- Listen: Try to focus on what the person is saying rather than thinking ahead to your next question. The information you learn from these types of conversations may help you clarify your interests in a specific field or may lead to opportunities.
- Request a business card: Ask if you can connect again after the event.
After the Event:
- Follow up: Send thank you emails to anyone you met within 24 hours. Try to personalize each message by referencing something specific you discussed.
- Track your interactions: keep a document detailing names and conversations you had so that you may reference it later on
