Each fall the Foster School of Business’s Career Center puts on one of the University’s largest Career Fairs. The fair offers students opportunities to speak with employers specifically looking to hire students in the business and economics majors. This year, employers were delighted with the number of economics students they were able to speak with. In order to ensure the safety of all participants, the 2020 event took place entirely online.
Over 150 economics students attended the fair, most of whom were seniors looking to land their first job out of college. Juniors also participated in large numbers, looking to get their foot in the door with a great internship. Students were able to sign up ahead of time for either 1-on-1 or small group sessions with employers.
The entire Fair was held on Handshake, an extremely valuable career networking and recruiting platform, which all UW students have access to through their netID. This platform offers ways to connect with employers throughout the year – any student looking to jump start their career should look to utilize this tool.
Student who attended the fair cited the UW Career Center as being largely helpful in preparing themselves for the fair. Offering resume help, interview prep, how to attend virtual career fair workshops, and more, the UW Career Center is a huge partner to any UW student looking for career advice. If you are a current UW student, please be sure to check out the upcoming events being offered by the UW Career Center.
Economics students reportedly knew about the fair because of the advertising efforts from the Department’s outreach and advising teams, who provided up to date information on preparation and guidance for attending the career fair. In addition, the department’s undergraduate mentorship program provided support for mentees, who were in turn able to encourage their classmates to attend as well. The mentorship program, which pairs alumni and economic professionals with current students, is open for students in the economics major to apply each Fall.
We are so fortunate to have close relationships with our partners throughout campus, particularly the Foster School of Business and the UW Career Center. Thank you to all students who attended the 2020 Fair, and to the members of the Department of Economics who help to elevate our students.