Career Expos
UND's largest hiring events of the year are held each fall and spring semester.
The Career Expos are an excellent opportunity for students to meet and network with a wide array of recruiters from companies across the nation. Employers will be seeking students to fill full-time jobs, and full-time and part-time internship and co-op positions. Students from ALL majors are welcome and encouraged to attend the career expos, as well as UND alumni and students from regional colleges and universities.
Upcoming Career Expo Events
Career Expo Information by Audience
Students
Reasons to Attend the Career Expo
- Learn about potential internship and employment opportunities.
- Explore a variety of career paths.
- Meet and talk with representatives from a broad spectrum of companies.
- Discuss available positions and submit your resume to company recruiters, in-person.
- Learn how to network effectively while developing a network of contacts.
Student Timeline
Succeed in college and prepare for your career. The Student Timeline provides you with resources and action items you are encouraged to utilize and complete each academic year.
How to Prepare for a Career Expo
- Have your resume reviewed by Career Services at least 2 weeks in advance to help highlight your knowledge and skills to employers.
- Practice your thirty-second elevator pitch. Prepare a script that introduces yourself, states your knowledge of and interest in the company, and relates your background to the position or organization.
- Research the list of employers attending in Handshake so that you can be informed and ready to discuss their company and positions.
- Dress professionally and business-like. Wear modest and appropriate professional attire and comfortable shoes. Check-out the JCP Suit-Up event, hosted each fall and spring, for a chance to shop professional dress clothing at a discounted price! Or, shop the Career Closet!
What to Bring to a Career Expo
- U Card (or know your student ID number).
- A notepad and pen to take notes or jot down employer information.
- Resume
- Physical copies to hand out to employers
- A digital version in case an employer asks
- Helpful tip: Upload your resume to Handshake and set your profile to community - this is an easy way for employers to access your experiences.
- A friendly, positive attitude when you meet with employers and other students.
Questions to Ask the Company Representatives
- What are you looking for in a candidate?
- What do you enjoy about working for this company?
- What are some of the reasons you feel your company is attractive to young professionals?
- What kinds of additional training or education would set me apart in this field?
- I don’t have a traditional background in (field or function) but I have worked on
(something
relevant). Would that be a good fit for (open role)? - I noticed you didn’t have any (type of role or roles on a specific team) open at this
time. What
kinds of opportunities in those areas do you foresee down the line? - What does the hiring process for (open role) look like?
- How does (Company name) support its employees as they look to grow and level up their
skills
and responsibilities? - What kind of person is most successful at (Company name)?
- What’s the best way to stay in touch with you?
- What would be a good next step to take after meeting you here?
Questions to Avoid Asking the Company Representatives
- "What's the pay range for this position?" (Save this question for follow-up interviews)
- "What about benefits and vacation time?" (These items are usually explained when the hiring manager offers you the job)
- "Can you tell me about your company?" (This question shows that you haven't done your homework)
How to Network Effectively
- Greet the recruiter with a firm handshake (if employer is comfortable) and maintain eye contact.
- Stand alone and be independent at the event. Try not to move in groups with your friends.
- Talk conversationally with the recruiter. Remember to smile.
- Advertise yourself. Develop a short introduction that sells you.
- Greeting, name, major, graduation date.
- Reason for attending the Career Expo.
- Evidence of your knowledge about the industry, company and products.
- Summary of your skills and experiences.
- Thank the recruiter for providing you with helpful information and shake their hand with a firm handshake.
- Ask for a business card so you can follow-up in a timely manner with a thank you email and/or connect on LinkedIn.
What to do After a Career Expo
The day following the expo, email the representative(s) you spoke with. In your email, add the date, name of the event, and location, and thank them for their time. Reiterate important information that should be restated and emphasized, in addition to your qualifications and any information you neglected to mention.
- Proofread your email.
- Include a copy of your resume.
Evaluate your experience to understand how the next experience can be improved.
- Did you contact the company?
- Did you have difficulty answering any questions?
- Did you relate your academic studies to career goals?
- Did you mention experiential learning experiences?
Answering these questions and others can help prepare you for your next expo or meeting with any business professional as you develop your networking skills.
Employers
Employer Registration
Registration for all events will open about 2 months prior to the event date.
To register for our Spring & Fall Career Expos:
- Visit Handshake
- Log in with your email address and password
- If you have not registered in our system before, click where it states, “Sign up for an account.”
- Once in the system, click on "Fairs" on the left side of the screen
- Search for "UND." A list of our upcoming Fairs will populate.
Registration Fees
Fall 2024 Part-Time Jobs Fair |
Fall 2024 Career Expo | Spring 2025 Career Expo |
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Fees
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Fees
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Fees
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Price Includes:
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Price Includes:
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Price Includes:
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Registration TimeframeJuly 1 - August 23, 2024 |
Registration TimeframeJuly 1 - September 13, 2024 |
Registration TimeframeDecember 1, 2024 - January 24, 2025 |
FALL CAREER EXPO ITINERARY |
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Please note: Credit card payments cannot be made until your registration has been approved by our office. You will receive the approval email from Handshake@notifications.joinhandshake.com. Please add this email address to your Safe Sender list. We do not accept paper checks.
Cancellations
Notification is appreciated as soon as possible so we may inform students. Registration fee is non-refundable and non-transferable per our cancellation policy. We promote our Career Expos to the best of our ability, utilizing social media, print media, emails, text messages, information sessions, and more. We do not guarantee any level of student attendance and participation, and we do not issue refunds based on student attendance or lack thereof.
Please contact our event coordinator:
Jen Proulx
jennifer.proulx@UND.edu
701.777.2117
Shipping Materials
Please be sure to CLEARLY label the name of your company on your shipping materials so that we can easily deliver your package(s) to your booth prior to the start of the Career Expo.
Send packages to:
Attn: UND Career Expo
c/o Campus Postal Services
2891 2nd Ave N Stop 9014
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9014
Where Can I Stay?
A block of rooms are available at the Hilton Garden Inn at a nightly rate of $96.30. When making your hotel arrangements, please be sure to mention that you are a participant in the Fall Career Expo and reserve by Thursday, Sept. 12 to receive the discounted rate.
Hilton Garden Inn
4301 James Ray Dr.
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Phone: 701.777.6000
Other hotel options are available at Visit Grand Forks.
Unloading / Parking
Prior to parking in the parking ramp, please drop-off your materials in the round-about North or South of the Memorial Union (see map below). For your convenience, we will have student volunteers available to transport your materials to your assigned booth. Please do not park in the unloading zone; you may be ticketed.
Free parking will be available to you in the parking ramp. Enter through the doors at the south of the Memorial Union and follow the UND Career Expo signs.
On-Campus Interviews
Questions? Please call 701.777.4103 before making your interview requests in Handshake. If you need additional information or have a special request, contact Nancy Nelson.
Information Sessions
To inquire about the possibility of holding an on-campus information session or classroom visit, please consult with Nancy Nelson, our Employer Relations staff for assistance.
Information sessions can be held any time of the week, however Monday – Thursday, at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. are the best times. You supply the date you want to host an event, and our office will work with the specific department/major to make arrangements to include a room within a specific college.
We will also make arrangements for a projector, screen, podium, speakers, etc., if you'd like to show a PowerPoint or web presentation. In addition, offering food such as pizza and cookies, entices students to attend. We can help with ideas if you want to go in that direction. The department will promote the event to the students in the majors you are interested in attracting.
Student Majors & Degrees Awarded
View a comprehensive list of UND's majors and programs below.