Your Guide to Expo

Employers come to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign because they want the best engineers in the country. Use this guide to make sure you're prepared for Expo.

1. Create a Résumé

Your résumé is the paper representation of yourself, so take care when preparing it for corporate representatives. Engineering Career Services offers appointments for reviewing your résumé.

2. Research Companies

Finding a company that's right for you can be a major challenge. Use the company attendance page to filter by major, class standing, job location, and more. You'll also be able to find brief descriptions and links to corporate websites.

3. Print a Name Tag (Optional)

Having a professional look starts with your name tag. Use our online name tag creator to make inserts sized for the Expo name tag holders.

4. Prepare an "Elevator Pitch"

First impressions go a long way, so spend some time planning a brief introduction of yourself. As suggested by the name, an "elevator pitch" should be deliverable in the time it would take to ride an elevator (about 30 seconds). Usually, this short speech will be followed by questions from the company representative, so mentioning things like leadership roles, lab experience, or your major career interests can help jump-start a fruitful conversation.

5. Wear Business Formal

Put on your best appearance for your future employer. If you're wearing a suit with 2 or 3 buttons, don't button the bottom one! When you have your nametag, wear it on your right side because company reps will read from their left to right.

6. Get to Expo

Expo will be at the Illini Union A,B,C rooms. See the Student Information page for more details.

7. Check In

Have your I-Card ready to be swiped, check your bags/coats, pick-up a guide, and pickup your nametag.

8. Talk to Companies

Find companies using the Expo guide and maps. Make sure you have a résumé ready before making your way to each company.

9. Follow-up

Expo is more than just a career fair. Be sure to submit your résumé to Symplicity, attend company info sessions, prepare for interviews, and follow any additional instructions the recruiters may have provided (submitting information on their corporate website, for example).

Good luck in the career search!