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Regional Job Fairs

Though you will certainly find additional job fairs in the local and DC/Baltimore metropolitan areas, the links below are to fairs that we  know will be a good use of your time. (If you attend another job fair that you find valuable, let us know and we'll add it to the list!) Career Fairs are generally free and open to the public, so you do not need to be a student or alum of the host institution to attend. Do check the websites before attending for updates, parking information, and any pre-registration requirements. You should always dress professionally, bring copies of your resume, and research the employers in advance.

Remember that job fairs are not just for Seniors! They can present a great opportunity for earlier networking and for discovering (or creating!) internship opportunities. Additionally, some defense contractors and federal government agencies hire students late in the Junior year because it can take 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 find a job.

The list below includes fairs that have already taken place so that you can plan ahead for next year. Exact dates will be added as they become available. Dates of upcoming fairs are in bold.

Here are some resources that will help you to make the most of any job fair experience:
Presenting Yourself at a Career Fair
Video: Three Steps to Job Fair Success

Central Maryland College Career Fair
Maryland Career Consortium (a group of colleges around Baltimore) teams up to host this annual job fair every February on the campus of Towson University. Though we are not a member of the consortium, SMCM students are welcome to attend. The 2009 Career Fair will take place on Tuesday, February 27, 10:00-3:30 at Towson Center. You can (and should!) review the list of employers on the web site in advance. We will host a job fair "prep session" in mid-February to help students prepare for this event. 

UMBC Career Fair
UMBC's largest job fair of the year occurs in the Fall. This year it was on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, in the UMBC RAC. A list of participating companies is available on the Web site. Details about future UMBC job fairs will be provided as relevant. 

Towson University Career Fair
Towson also holds a Fall internship and career fair. This year it was on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, in the Chesapeake Rooms of the TU Union. Though there is not much information publicly available on the TU Web site, SMCM students are encoruaged to attend. More information,  including a list of employers, is available through in the SMCM CDC.

Career Fairs at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins holds several career fairs each year at the Homewood Campus. The fairs for the current academic year are below. Participating employers are listed on the Web site in advance, and directions are also available.

Thursday, October 2, 2008: Fall Career Fair for internships, jobs, and educational opportunities in all disciplines

Wednesday, February 11, 2009: Science & Technology Career Fair for internships, jobs, and educational opportunities in science, technology, and math

Tuesday, March 3, 2009: Public Service Career Fair for internships and jobs with non-profits, government agencies, and educational organizations

Idealist Non-Profit Job Fair
Idealist.org hosts non-profit job fairs around the country. In 2008 there was a fair in DC with over 100 recruiters, but in 2009 it looks like you'll need to drive to Philly. The date of the fair is Thursday, March 26. It is hosted by Villanova University but all students are encouraged to attend.  Participants can talk with recruiters about employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities and can also attend free information sessions offering career advice for those interested in working for nonprofits. Check the web site for a list of employers.

Federal Career Days/Public Service Career Fairs
The left column of the "Making the Difference," the student outreach Web site of the federal government, includes promotion of upcoming events around the country featuring federal employers.

Southern Maryland Newspapers Job Fair
This job fair is sponsored by the local county newspapers and occurs 2-3 times per year at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center on Airport Rd. in California, Maryland. The most recent fair occurred in September, 2008. Participating employers represent a wide range of industries. Details regarding upcoming job fairs will be provided when the become available.

Job Zone Job Fair (Local Defense Contractors)
This job fair sponsored by Pax River Naval Air Station occurs 3-4 times per year in the Daugherty Conference Center on Rte. 235. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 3:00-7:00 PM. Participating companies generally include local defense contractors (though many have positions in other locations as well) and the Navy. Similar job fairs are offerred in Virginia (see web site). This fair presents useful opportunities for new graduates majoring in economics, math, physics, and computer science in particular.

Women for Hire Career Expo
Women for Hire hosts a career fair in DC each Spring and Fall. The next one will occur on Thursday, February 19, 2009, 10:00-2:00 at the Hamilton Crowne Hotel. The expo includes an informational seminar and free resume critiques. Business attire and resume copies are required for addmittance. Participating employers are listed on the website one month in advance.

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 most recent DC job fair was in November, 2008. Spring job fairs will be held in April in Boston and New York. Preregistration required.

You might also consider...
Monster.com Job Fairs
Employmentguide.com Job Fairs