NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Rutgers University is hosting a “virtual career and internship mega-fair” on February 5 from 11AM-4PM.

The event is open only to students and alumni of the university.

It is organized by the Office of Career Exploration and Success and is sponsored by FDM, iCIMS, Johnson & Johnson, L3Harris Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, the U.S. Army, and SHI International Corp.

Candidates can see the complete list of the more than 150 businesses participating in the event by logging into the Rutgers “Handshake” app.

Students and alumni will need to use their “NetID” to set up a Rutgers Handshake account, register for the fair, and schedule 1-on-1 or group sessions with employers.

Candidates can review their How to Register for the Virtual Career & Internship Fair Series video on Instagram or reach out to the department’s office for assistance.

The participating employers will be broken down into three segments: employers hiring in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, those hiring for non-STEM positions, and those hiring for both.

The fair labels represent the types of positions employers offer and not the industry with which they align.

Janet Jones, Director of Industry & Student Connections for the Office of Career Exploration and Success, said, “Employers are impressed with the level of professionalism our students possess. Not only their academic proficiency but their ability to navigate complex environments and problems, along with the global and cultural fluency many have from having experienced a diverse campus population.”

The fair is also organized around career communities, including:

  • Physical Sciences
  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Students with Disabilities
  • LGBTQ Students
  • General Student Organizations
  • Doctoral Students
  • Military Veterans
  • Athletes
  • Policy
  • Law, and Public Safety
  • Education and Human Services
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Human Resources and Administration
  • Marketing
  • Sales and Service
  • Rutgers Student Employees
  • Alumni
  • Black and Latinx Students
  • Medical Professions
  • Arts
  • Audio, Visual, and Communications.

Over 2,400 candidates are currently registered for the virtual fair and growing.

The key to a virtual fair is signing up for 1-on-1 or group sessions with an organization.

Though sign-ups are possible on the day of the fair, though there are a limited number of one-on-one sessions with each employer.

Group sessions are also available for candidates to learn information about an organization, its hiring policies, and its workforce needs from an employer. 

The Office of Career Exploration and Success has offered in-person career and internship fairs for years, but this fair will be the third virtual fair they have provided since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the university to shut down the campus and cancel many of its traditional events.

In Fall 2020, they hosted the Fall Rutgers Virtual Career and Internship Fair and the Rutgers Virtual Graduate & Professional Fair.

Jones said, “Both recruiters and candidates have successfully connected through virtual events. Now, more than ever, candidates need to prepare for brief one-one-one conversation with employers by presenting themselves professionally and succinctly.” 

“Candidates should prepare for a virtual fair by making sure that their technical connections work, researching organizations in advance, and by preparing to present their skills, internships, and leadership experiences to recruiters in a 10-minute time frame.” 

During this difficult and uncertain time, the Office of Career Exploration and Success wants students to keep the faith when looking for jobs and maintain a positive attitude.

“Develop your skills!” said Kait Weiss, Associate Director for Strategic Outreach at the office. “If you’re not able to land your ideal internship or job, strive to build upon your skillsets—learn something new, take a course, receive a software certification… These items can be beneficial for your growth and show that you made the most of your time during the pandemic.”

Local Editor at New Brunswick Today | hcafarella@nb.today

Haley Cafarella is a passionate journalist and content developer. She is currently creating content for IFPG, a franchise broker network, and writes articles for its franchise news site, FranchiseWire. In addition to contributing to New Brunswick Today, the Rutgers University journalism graduate has also written for The Buttonwood Tree, the Trenton Monitor, and Quo Vadis, Middlesex College's student newspaper.

Haley Cafarella is a passionate journalist and content developer. She is currently creating content for IFPG, a franchise broker network, and writes articles for its franchise news site, FranchiseWire. In addition to contributing to New Brunswick Today, the Rutgers University journalism graduate has also written for The Buttonwood Tree, the Trenton Monitor, and Quo Vadis, Middlesex College's student newspaper.