Intern
of the Week
Mark P.,
Spring '11,
Waldorf Real Estate
Waldorf, MD
“From my internship I feel that I have gained, and will continue to gain, a better feel of the current real estate market in the Southern Maryland region and how the economy is playing a role in that market.”
Regional Job Fairs
The job fairs below are free and open to the public (if you plan to attend any others, inquire first about entry requirements!). Do check the websites before attending for pre-registration details, updates, and parking information. You should always dress professionally, bring copies of your resume, and research the employers in advance (most websites include a list of employers attending).
Remember that job fairs are not just for Seniors! They can also present a great opportunity for earlier networking and for discovering internship opportunities. Additionally, some government agencies hire students in the Junior year because it takes several months to establish a security clearance. It's also helpful to have an idea of what a job fair is like before you go to one to actually look for a job.
The comprehensive list below includes upcoming fairs (in bold) as well as those that have recently taken place so that students can plan ahead for next year.
Here are some resources that will help you to make the most of any job fair experience:
Presenting Yourself at a Career Fair
Job Fair Success from CollegeGrad.com
Video: Three Steps to Job Fair Success
GENERAL JOB FAIRS
Central Maryland College Career Fair
Maryland Career Consortium (Baltimore) teams up to host this annual job fair every February. Though we are not a member of the consortium, SMCM students are welcome to attend. This year's fair will be on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at Loyola University, Maryland. You can review the list of employers on the web site in advance. We host a job fair "prep session" in early February to help students prepare for this event.Lehigh Valley Collegiate Career Expo
This consortium of Pennsylvania schools also hosts a February job fair that is open to students and alumni from other schools. This year's fair will be Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at the Holiday Inn in Fogelsville, PA. Employers offer internship and volunteer opportunities as well as part-time and full-time employment. More than 100 employers attend.National Capital Region Job Fair
More than 65 professional and high tech companies from Virginia, Maryland and DC recruit at this event for all levels and disciplines. This year's fair will be Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church. Advance registration is required and enables inclusion of your resume in a book distributed to attending employers.
COLLEGE-HOSTED JOB FAIRS
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins holds several career fairs each year at the Homewood Campus. This year's dates are as follows: Thursday, February 9, 2012: Spring Career Fair, and Wednesday, March 7, 2012: Non-profit, Government, and Policy Career Fair.UMBC
UMBC will host a Summer Job/Internship Fair on Tuesday February 9, 2012, and a spring career fair will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Parking can be a challenge at UMBC; check here for details.Towson University
Towson generally holds an internship and career fair in late March. Though there is not much information available on the TU Web site, SMCM students are encouraged to attend. More information, including a list of employers, can be obtained through in the SMCM CDC. Towson also maintains a useful list of career fair opportunities offered by various organizations and schools, many of which you would be eligible to attend.Salisbury University
Salisbury has already hosted their Fall Job Fair on September 28, 2011, at the University Center. They are hosting a Spring Job Fair on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, and also a Summer Job Fair on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. They also host a separate job fair for Health Human Services on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 , and a Education Job Fair on Thursday, March 29, 2012. These will all be held in the Wicomico Room of the University Center.Washington College
This Annual Career Fair in Chestertown, MD, was held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in Cain Gymnasium. Among the employers attending last year were PNC Bank, the CIA, Johns Hopkins, and PRS Guitars, a guitar manufacturer headquartered in Maryland that was founded by SMCM alum Paul Reed Smith.
DISCIPLINE/FIELD-SPECIFIC JOB FAIRS
Internship Fair for the Arts
Shakespeare Theatre Company and other DC cultural and arts organizations (Wolftrap, Folger, Arena Stage, Ford's Theater, Washington National Opera, etc.) assembled at the Harman Center for the Arts to help early career individuals learn about internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities available in artistic, administrative, technical, outreach, and production departments. We have not yet received details about a 2012 fair.Southern Teacher Job Fair
Southern Teachers Agency helps teachers find jobs in private/independent schools around the South. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree to teach in a private school, but certification is not always required. Southern Teachers Job Fairs are open only to active STA candidates, so apply now! The deadline to apply as a candidate for the March 10, 2012, DC fair is February 17, 2012. To apply, please submit an online application along with your resume and cover letter.
LOCAL JOB FAIRS
Tri County Job & Career Fair
The College of Southern Maryland hosts a local job fair in the PE building of their LaPlata campus in the Spring. This year it will be on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. This job fair is open to all SMCM students. For more information and a list of attending employers see CSM's website.Job Zone Job Fair (Local Defense Contractors)
This job fair sponsored by Pax River Naval Air Station. Upcoming fairs will occur on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 and Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Participating companies generally include local defense contractors (though many have positions in other locations as well) and the Navy. Similar job fairs are offered in Virginia (see web site). This fair presents useful opportunities for new graduates majoring in economics, math, physics, and computer science in particular.JOB FAIRS FOR SPECIAL GROUPS
Career Expo for People with Disabilities
These career fairs, hosted by Careers and the disabled magazine, are for entry-level college graduates, professionals, and returning veterans with disabilities. Participating employers include Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, among others. The next DC job fair will be Friday, March 16, 2012, and another on Monday, November 19, 2012. Preregistration required.
