Career and Internship Fairs

Our career and internship fairs are open to NIU students, alumni and community members, as well as students from other universities and colleges. They're a great way to connect with employers and practice your professional communication skills. We'll help you prepare for and make the most of any fair you attend, whether it's in person or virtual.

How to Prepare for a Fair (In-person or Virtual)

• Check our event calendar to find a career fair prep workshop to attend.
• Watch videos and read articles in the resources section of Huskies Get Hired.
• Update your resume, LinkedIn profile and digital portfolio (if appropriate).
• Participate in a practice interview.
• Research employers so you can show your knowledge to recruiters.
• Prepare and practice a brief speech to introduce yourself. Talk about your skills and experiences and how they could benefit the company, as well as what makes you unique.

Tips for In-person Fairs

• Dress professionally: matching suit jacket and pants/skirt in a solid, dark color; neutral dress shirt; conservative tie (if desired).
• Bring several copies of your resume as well as your OneCard to make additional copies if needed.
• Bring a notepad or other way to take notes.
• Visit high-priority employers after you start feeling comfortable and confident in your approach.
• Don’t spend all your time waiting in just one line.
• Be assertive, courteous and confident. Remember to give the brief speech you prepared.
• Ask questions about the position, training and the employer. Do not ask about salary.
• Request contact information from recruiters. Send thank-you emails and connect with them on LinkedIn.

How to Attend a Virtual Fair

Follow these additional preparation steps:

• Upload your resume and update your profile in Huskies Get Hired. Use your Z-ID and password to log in or email careerservices@niu.edu to request access.
• Check your browser and audio/video settings (Chrome and Edge are preferred).

Follow these steps to attend:

1. Log in to Huskies Get Hired and click on "events."
2. Click on "career fairs," then your fair's name.
3. Click "attend" and set your status to "online."
4. Go to the employer tab and click "join queue" to join the line for a video chat with an employer.
5. Follow the instructions that pop up when it's your turn. To join quickly, select the option to join the meeting online.
6. When you're done, click “end chat."
7. Huskies Get Hired will store the names and email addresses of the representatives you spoke with. Use this information to write thank-you notes.

Tips for Virtual Fairs

• Attend from a quiet space with few distractions or use headphones.
• Use a professional background (system-generated backgrounds may not work during one-on-one chats).
• You can join up to three queues at one time.
• If you need a short break, set your status to "busy."
• If you need to leave, set your status to "offline" to be removed from any queues.
• If you're attending the fair for a class or other assignment, be sure to have at least one one-on-one chat so we can verify your attendance.