Winter Career & Networking Fair

• In-person event
• Teraanga Commons, Carleton University
• 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6

Graduating this year or exploring your career options? Carleton students and new grads are encouraged to attend the in-person Winter Career & Networking Fair on Wednesday, February 5, 10am-3pm!

Career & Networking Fairs are essential for identifying hiring trends and getting to know employers, regardless of what stage you are at in your university career.

Benefits of attending:

• Establish and grow your professional network by making contacts for the future
• Explore full-time, part-time, co-op, and summer opportunities from hiring employers (check out the alphabetical list, by degree list, and employer cheat sheet)
• Learn about future employment opportunities from networking employers
• Discover a range of organizations – small, medium, and large – to see if you would be a good fit
• Practice your networking skills
• Maximize your time by meeting with a variety of employers without needing to leave campus

If you have any questions about the Winter Career & Networking Fair, or require accommodations for a disability to attend this event, please email careerfair@carleton.ca.

For full details and to register, visit the mySuccess Co-op and Career Workshops and Events calendar to register.

What to Expect

• Networking opportunities and initiating conversation with employers
• Listening to employers either one-on-one or in a group setting
• High-traffic expo venue
• Exposure to constant verbal noise
• Ability to circulate fair venue at own pace

Next Steps

1. Register. Register for the Career & Networking Fair on the mySuccess event post.

2. Do your research. Once the employer lists are out, review the list of attending employers, and create a list of organizations you are interested in learning more about and speaking with at the fair.

3. Get resume- and networking-ready. Many employers will encourage students to apply to employment opportunities through the mySuccess job board or their organizations’ job portals. At the Career & Networking Fair, you can drop by the Resume Review Station for a short on-the-spot resume check-up to make sure you’re submitting a strong application. It is encouraged to have a paper copy on hand for the review. Anyone attending the Career Fair is encouraged to attend the Prepare for the Fair events. You can also review the Student Event Guide to help prepare for the event.

4. Prepare your talking points. The representatives that you’ll be meeting with want to learn more about you! Think of an elevator pitch about yourself (short overview about your background, what you’re studying, and your career goals).

5. Have 2-3 questions ready. These could include questions about:

• The organization
• Workplace culture
• Current job openings
• What their application, interview, and hiring processes are like
• What education and experience can set you apart from other candidates

Have a pen and paper with you so you can jot down the representatives’ responses or new questions that you think of during the conversation.

6. Dress professionally. Wear business casual attire that you feel comfortable networking in (an example of this could be dress pants and a button-up or nice sweater). While we love Ravens gear, leave the sweats at home for this event. In addition to helping you get in the right mindset and boosting your confidence, this presents a polished image to the representatives. You want to put your best foot forward and be remembered in a positive and professional light.

7. Follow up after the event and keep the momentum going from your meetings. Connect with the representatives you met with on LinkedIn, apply to the jobs that are a good fit for you, and plan to touch base with the representatives within a week or two after the event to maintain the connection and follow up on your applications.