Center for Career & Leadership Development
Career Fairs & Networking Opportunities
Whether you're graduating soon, interested in internships, or exploring career options, attending a career fair is a chance to speak directly to a potential employer. MGA offers several opportunities each year for students and alumni to connect with employers. We also offer specialized opportunities to meet with graduate school recruiters to learn about continuing your education beyond the bachelor's degree.
To access the most current calendar of these opportunities, activate your Handshake account and access Events on the Handshake platform. On Handshake, you can learn more about each event and pre-register if you plan to attend.
Spring 2023 Career Fairs
All Industry Career Fair (Macon)
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Student & Alumni Registration and Information on Handshake (includes list of employers) Employer Registration and Information on Handshake
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Aviation Career Fair (Eastman)
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Student & Alumni Registration and Information on Handshake (includes list of employers) Employer Registration and Information on Handshake
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Preparing for a Career Fair
In a professional setting, you will want to present yourself in the best way possible. Schedule an appointment on Handshake if you have questions about any of the following tips. We're here to help!
- Plan to dress in business/professional attire. In general, you'll want to dress like you're going to the office - no denim, athletic attire, t-shirts, shorts, or other more casual attire. Button-down shirts with a tie, trousers, knee-length dresses and skirts, close-toed shoes, conservative blouses, and blazers are typical career fair attire. Schedule a time to visit the Professional Closet in Macon or Cochran to learn more about professional attire and check out the lightly used items that we have for sale.
- Meet with a career advisor in the CCLD to update your resume. Upper-level students and alumni should bring resumes so that employers have a way to follow-up with them for potential opportunities. Freshmen and sophomores who want to attend to explore careers do not have to bring a resume, but to be competitive for internships, we strongly encourage resumes.
- Research the companies that have registered to attend. Use the list on Handshake to visit each company's web page to learn more about their organization and their typical career opportunities. Many companies will attend with the hopes of filling a particular position, but most hire for many other areas.
- Prepare questions to ask each employer that interests you. We recommend open-ended questions that will engage the employer in dialogue. Rather than asking, "Do you have internships?", try something like, "What types of internships do you offer for someone interested in ____?"
- Prepare your elevator pitch/introduction. Knowing what you want to say to employers when you first meet them will help ease any anxiety about attending the fair. Doing your research about the companies ahead of time will help you focus your pitch on each company.
- Questions? Contact us or schedule an appointment on Handshake.
Virtual Employer and Graduate School Sessions
In addition to our in-person career fairs and employer campus visits, check Handshake for the employer and graduate school sessions open to students at multiple institutions. These virtual events connect you with a diverse set of opportunities that may be inside or outside the local region.
Preparing for Virtual Career Fairs
If you have participated in a career fair in the past, many of the same principles apply. The big difference is scheduling meetings in advance and preparing your technology. You'll still wear professional attire and plan to discuss how your skills and experiences fit what the employer is seeking. Instead of waiting in a line to talk to the employer in person, you'll be at a computer or mobile device in a quiet space where you can talk to the employer individually.
The CCLD participates in two virtual fairs each year hosted by the Georgia Association of Colleges & Employers. These fairs are powered by Highre and will require you to create a profile and upload your resume. At times, the CCLD may host a virtual career fair or networking event on Handshake. To participate in a career fair on Handshake, you must have a Handshake account. You will also need to update your Handshake profile to include your correct major, GPA, graduation date, and school year. We recommend adding a professional headshot, skills, and work and club experiences. You should also add your resume to your profile so that employers and graduate schools have easy access to your information - this is very important for follow-up after the career fair. If a company asks for additional documents, be sure to upload those to your profile as well.
Contacting Us for Assistance
Prior to the career fairs, we recommend getting a career advisor to review your resume. You can email your resume to or upload to Handshake for a quick review or plan to attend one of our Resume Review Days advertised in our Handshake events. In addition, you can schedule an appointment in Handshake by going to "Career Center" and then "Appointments."