The 2019 Policy & Government Career Fair
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” ~John F. Kennedy
Fair Information
When: Friday, September 20, 2019 | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Who: The fair is open to students and alumni of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as current students of Haverford College, Swarthmore College and Bryn Mawr College.
Check Handshake for a list of registered organizations.
The app will be populated with attending employers in September 2019.
Registered Organizations in 2018
- American Institutes for Research
- Campaign for Working Families, Inc
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- City Year
- Congressional Leadership Fund
- DC Child and Family Services Agency
- DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency
- Delaware State Police
- Environment America/US PIRG
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- GEO Group
- Institute for the International Education of Students
- Marine Officer Program Philadelphia
- Mathematica Policy Research
- PA Department of Corrections
- Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Pennsylvania State Police
- Public Financial Management
- Public Leadership Education Network
- Quaker Voluntary Service
- State of Delaware
- Student PIRGs
- The Institute of World Politics
- The Public Interest Network
- U.S. Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General
- University of Pennsylvania – Middle East Center
- University of Pennsylvania – Penn in Washington
- Wilmington Department of Police
Tips for the Career Fair
1. Dress appropriately. This event is business casual.
2. Do your homework before you go. Research the companies attending by browsing through Handshake.
3. Before you get to Houston Hall, decide which companies you will see first (interactive map is in the CareerFairPlus app). Before you approach a table, think about the research you’ve done for a minute:
- What do you already know about the employer?
- Think of questions that you can ask to help you understand what the organization is seeking and to learn of their hiring timelines and processes.
- Be prepared to give a brief summary of the type of work you are seeking.
- Be prepared to say a little bit about yourself (interests, projects, research, goals, etc.)
4. Approach recruiters! Don’t be nervous, the recruiters are here to speak with you. Be sociable and professional.
5. Be prepared to initiate conversation, by asking questions or saying something that gives the person an invitation to talk. The idea is to converse with employers, not to just have a question & answer session. Your conversation should last for about a minute and a half.
6. Introduce yourself and thank the employer for attending. Shake hands and make eye contact.
7. Be aware of others waiting. If you determine that you are not particularly interested in working for this organization, thank the recruiter for his/her time and walk on. If you are very interested, say something like, “I’d like to speak with you further, but I see that you have others waiting. May I come back later to see if you have more time?”
8. Be discreet in talking about employers. Even if you know the recruiter keep in mind that they represent the employer now. All conversations should be on a professional level.
9. Provide the employer with your resume. Bring plenty of copies.
10. Some organizations will bring promotional gift items. Don’t take more than you can carry inconspicuously and don’t take take one if you haven’t spoken with the recruiter.
11. Take the recruiter’s business card for future reference.
12. If you want to pursue a job with a recruiter, make sure you know what to do next (ie. fill out an application form, send a letter of recommendation, etc.)
13. After the event, jot down some information about your conversation with each representative to whom you spoke. This will help you in in the future when contacting this person or others in the organization. Sending thank you notes (by email is fine) is recommended for those companies with opportunities you are especially interested in pursuing. Try to trigger the representative’s memory of you by stating something that you had discussed with him or her.
