Before the Fair
Thoughtful preparation is the difference between a productive fair and a forgettable one. Start early so you can focus on conversations rather than logistics.
- Log in to MICAnetwork to register for the fair and confirm your attendance.
- Review the list of attending organizations and flag the ones that align with your interests and goals.
- Sign up for interviews through MICAnetwork in advance of the event.
- Prepare your portfolio and résumé in a format that is easy to share digitally during virtual sessions.
- Test your technology — confirm Zoom access, audio, and camera before the fair begins.
Day-Of Checklist
- Access your Zoom link through MICAnetwork before the start time.
- Join from a quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background.
- Keep water nearby and silence non-essential notifications.
- Have your portfolio, résumé, and a notepad open and ready.
- Plan to arrive a few minutes early for any scheduled interviews.
The 2021 virtual Internship + Career Fair was held on Friday, March 5, 2021, from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM EDT via Zoom. MICAnetwork remains the central place to register, sign up for interviews, view attending organizations, and access Zoom links.
Treating a virtual career fair like an in-person event can sharpen the experience in meaningful ways. Setting aside time in advance to explore the schedule, build a short list of priority conversations, and rehearse a clear introduction helps turn a packed afternoon of Zoom sessions into something genuinely productive rather than frantic. Treating every meeting as a brief, focused exchange invites better follow-up afterward, since most hiring pipelines continue over email after the event itself ends.
The days leading up to the fair are best spent doing quiet research rather than last-minute scrambling. Reviewing the list of attending organizations, noting which teams align with current skills or interests, and drafting a few thoughtful questions for each employer demonstrates preparation that recruiters notice immediately. Skimming recent projects, social channels, or published work by the companies on the shortlist can surface common ground to reference during the brief window of conversation that a virtual table allows.
A digital portfolio and résumé deserve the same polish as a printed handout, since they are often the only materials a recruiter will see. Saving documents in widely compatible formats, keeping file sizes manageable, and having links ready to paste into chat windows removes friction at the moment a connection is being made. Preparing a one-line summary of background, interests, and target roles also gives candidates a confident answer to the inevitable opening question during a short virtual interview slot.
Technical readiness is often the most overlooked part of fair preparation. Confirming Zoom access, testing audio and camera quality, and locating a quiet, well-lit space well before the first session removes small frustrations that can derail an otherwise promising conversation. Keeping chargers nearby, closing unnecessary tabs, and having a backup plan for connectivity issues signals professionalism and ensures that attention stays on the dialogue rather than on troubleshooting in front of an employer.
After the Fair
Your work continues once the event closes. A few small steps help turn conversations into opportunities.
- Send a brief, personalized thank-you message to each employer you met.
- Update your résumé and portfolio based on the questions you were asked.
- Continue checking MICAnetwork for posted positions and interview openings.
- Reach out to the fair organizers at kcarroll01@micacareerfair.com with any follow-up questions.
