Frequently Asked Questions about the Job and Internship Fair

Absolutely not. The Job and Internship Fair is designed for every class year. First-years and sophomores can use the space to discover what types of industries exist and learn about internships or future jobs, while juniors and seniors can explore available job and internship opportunities. We will meet you wherever you are.

Once you’ve registered for the Fair, you have the ability to view and search the current and growing list of participating organizations. Employers attending represent a wide range of industries:

  • Public Service, Education, and Law: (Non-Profits, Government Agencies, K-12 Education, Politics, Social Assistance, Higher Education) 
  • Innovation and Science: (Biotech, Software, Renewable Energy)
  • Communication and Media: (Advertising, PR, Marketing, Fashion, Journalism, Publishing)
  • Business, Finance, and Consulting: (Insurance, Commercial Banking, Management Consulting, Investment Management)

Here are some tips on doing a deep dive on an organization:

  • Identify organizations you are most interested in.
  • Focus on the organization’s mission, culture, and skills valued.
  • Check out the organization’s open jobs and internship opportunities.

This is a great opportunity to connect with potential employers, learn about job and internship  opportunities, practice job and internship search strategies such as researching organizations, and gather general information about different career opportunities. No matter what stage of internship or job search you are in, we encourage you to explore.

Yes! When you walk into the Fair, you will see a Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning table, where you will check in and receive a printed name tag.

Each employer will have a QR code at their table to track who visited them. If you would like the recruiter to have your contact information or want to receive their post-fair updates, make sure to scan their QR code.

This is a great opportunity to register and attend one of our pre-fair preparation workshops. These workshops will provide you with information about how to show up to have a successful fair experience, whether you are networking or trying to land a job or internship.

If you don’t have the time to attend one of our pre-fair workshops, here is some instruction on how to prepare an elevator pitch: 

If you have previous related experience:

Prepare a few concise talking points. For example: “I am Violet, a junior double majoring in Philosophy and American Studies. I spent this past summer working remotely as a Project Management Intern at Github, where I planned and analyzed production life cycles. I am hoping to find an internship this summer where I can enhance my data analysis skills and further explore my interests in product, technology, and project management.”

If you don’t have related experience:

“Hi, I’m Violet, a sophomore. I’m currently exploring economics and history, and I don’t have a defined career track yet. I’m visiting your table today because I want to learn more about what a typical day looks like at your organization and what skills your team values most.”

You can also watch the Big Interview “Tell Me About Yourself” video (in the Fast Track curriculum, under Acing Common Questions) to learn how to respond to this common interview question. Then, practice answering the question in a Big Interview practice interview.

Three Tips:

  1. Practice your active listening skills.
  2. Make eye contact.
  3. When chatting or speaking, try to avoid slang or references unfamiliar to those outside of Amherst. For example: “I am a Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought major” not “I am a LJST major”.

Take a 2-Minute Lap First: When you enter, don’t feel pressured to talk to anyone immediately. Walk the perimeter of the gym, look at the employer banners, grab a map, and get comfortable with the room’s energy.

The “Warm-Up” Strategy: Don’t start with your top-choice employer. Have a casual conversation with a few different organizations first to practice introducing yourself in a completely supportive environment.

  • Lead with your strengths. Introduce yourself by sharing your interests, skills, and relevant experiences before discussing work authorization.
  • Personalize each conversation. Research participating organizations and tailor your introduction, resume, examples, and questions to each employer.
  • Know your work-authorization options. Before the Fair, understand your CPT or OPT eligibility, requirements, and timelines so you can answer questions confidently.
  • Act promptly after the Fair. Apply early to opportunities that interest you and follow up with recruiters, especially if you are approaching graduation.

  • Identify employers open to international candidates. Before the Fair, use Interstride, Handshake’s work-authorization filters, and MyVisaJobs.com to research organizations that have hired international candidates or sponsored H-1B visas.
  • Connect with the right representatives. At the Fair, ask whether someone on the recruiting team can answer questions about CPT, OPT, or future visa sponsorship. Afterward, follow up through email, LinkedIn, or Handshake.
  • Learn from international alumni. Connect with Amherst alumni working in fields that interest you. Ask how they approached their first U.S. job search, communicated their strengths, and navigated work-authorization questions. Use the Networking How-To Guide to prepare.
  • Prepare examples that demonstrate your skills. Use the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, and Result—to practice answering behavioral questions, such as:
    • “Tell me about a time you worked effectively on a team.”
    • “Describe a challenge you faced and how you handled it.”
    • “Share an example of how you solved a problem.”
  • Follow up promptly. Send a brief, personalized thank-you message within 24–48 hours of the Fair. Mention something specific from your conversation and reiterate your interest.
    • Example: “It was a pleasure speaking with you at the Amherst College Job and Internship Fair about the data policy internship. I appreciated learning more about your team’s work in social justice. With my data analysis and communication skills, I would be excited to contribute to this work. Thank you for your time, and I hope we can stay connected.”

You do not need to ask every question. Choose the ones most relevant to the opportunity and your circumstances.

  • “Does your organization hire international students who are eligible to work through CPT or OPT?”
  • “Is this internship or position open to candidates with F-1 work authorization?”
  • “Does your organization consider candidates who may require employment sponsorship in the future?”
  • “Has your organization sponsored employees for H-1B or another employment-based visa?”
  • “Do interns have opportunities to transition into full-time positions?”
  • “Who would be the best person to contact with additional questions about work authorization or sponsorship?”

The final question is particularly useful at a career fair because the representative may not know every detail of the organization’s policies.

  • Highlight relevant experience—wherever it occurred. Include internships, employment, volunteer work, research, and class projects that demonstrate skills related to the opportunity. Briefly explain organizations or experiences that may be unfamiliar to U.S. employers.
  • Showcase your work. When relevant, include links on your resume and LinkedIn profile to a portfolio, personal website, GitHub account, writing samples, or other projects.
  • Consider including your work-authorization status. If accurate and appropriate, you may add a brief statement near the bottom of your resume, such as: “F-1 student eligible for CPT/OPT.” Consult an international student advisor if you are unsure how to describe your eligibility.
  • Strengthen your LinkedIn headline. Go beyond your class year and major by highlighting your interests and relevant skills. For example:
    “Amherst College Senior | Climate and Social Impact | Data Analysis | Blackbaud and CRM”

Though we recommend you update your resume before going to the Job and Internship Fair, it is not required to attend. There will be opportunities to connect with employers after the event via Handshake. 

If you would like to update your resume before the event, please review our Resume How-to Guide and resume samples to update your resume with best practices in mind. 

Important: Make sure you have your resume marked as Visible if you’d like to be included in the employer’s resume download from their RSVPs list! For more information and to learn how to make your resume visible, read Handshake’s Understanding Document Visibility.

Yes! You don’t need a fully completed profile, but look to see if your preferred name is included in your profile. Is your graduation date, school year, major, GPA (calculated on a 4.0 scale), and work authorization information accurate? Beyond these basics, select the job types, locations, and roles that interest you, so recruiters know which jobs and internships might be a good fit for you. 

If you would like your profile to be visible to employers, please check that your privacy settings are updated. For more information, refer to Profile Privacy Options in Handshake.

There is no formal dress code, and you do not need to buy formal wear to attend. We want you to feel comfortable and confident. Neat, clean, everyday attire—such as a sweater, blouse, button-up shirt, casual pants, or a dress—works perfectly. If you don’t have time to change, come as you are between classes.

Need outfit inspiration? Find ideas on our Pinterest board.