- September 28-30, 2021
- Online live event:
- Hosted By: Career Development
Cost and Admission
This event is free to attend.
How do I find internships? What is it like speaking with an employer? How can I build my network?
Answer these questions by attending the Hiring Expos. Hiring Expos are a great way to explore a variety of career and internship opportunities. Land your next job or simply build professional confidence by connecting with companies from dozens of industries. Each expo is open to all majors and class levels.
We have three virtual Hiring Expos this Fall 2021 hosted on Handshake.
- Business, Healthcare, & STEM (September 28)
- Non-Profit & Government (September 29)
- Ministry & Missions (September 30)
First Hiring Expo?
Follow the Playbook
The Student Playbook has everything you need to help you prepare for and navigate the Hiring Expos.
Looking for specific resources? Head over to the preparation and resources tab.
If you’re feeling intimidated speaking with employers, that’s perfectly normal. Think of these meetings as simple conversations. Employers want to know about your skills and experiences and if you might be a good fit for their company. Depending on your comfort level you can choose from two types of sessions:
Group Sessions
Meet with employers in 30-minute information sessions to learn about companies and their roles. This is a great way to begin connecting with professionals.
1:1 Sessions
Meet for 10-minute 1:1 sessions with employers. If you are interested in a particular company or position, get the time you need to connect directly with an employer.
How can we help you prepare for the Expo? DM us on Instagram @biolacareer
Questions?
Contact Career Center at:
562-903-4875
career.development@biola.edu
How to Register
In order to attend the Hiring Expo, you must register and sign up for sessions.
How to meet with employers
1. Register
- Register for the Expo days that interest you by clicking "Register"
- All attendees can sign up for BOTH events regardless of degree program.
2. Sign up for Sessions
- View Available Sessions on each event page
- Business, Healthcare & STEM (September 28, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)
- Non-Profit & Government (September 29, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)
- Ministry & Missions (September 30, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)
- When you locate an employer that you'd like to meet with, look for the session information below the employer name and description.
- Group sessions will have a custom title and indicate a length of 30 minutes.
- 1:1 sessions are indicated by "One on One with EMPLOYER NAME"
- Sign up!
- NOTE: You may need to adjust your privacy settings.
- For Group Sessions, privacy must be set to Community.
- For 1:1 Sessions, privacy can be set to Employer.
- Group sessions
- Review the information, and if you'd like to proceed, click Confirm to sign up.
- If a Group Session is full, it will not appear in the list any longer.
- 1:1 Sessions
- Each session is 10 minutes long.
- You can choose which representative to attend a 1:1 session with if multiple are listed.
- The red dot to the right of a session start time indicates that you are currently signed up for a session during that time.
- In order to sign up for this session, you'd need to cancel the existing session sign up.
- NOTE: You may need to adjust your privacy settings.
Video: Locating and Registering for Virtual Fairs
Learn how to sign up for information sessions and one-on-one time slots to speak with employers at the fair.
How to Manage your RSVP’s
- As you sign up for sessions, a list of sessions will populate to the right of your screen in Handshake.
- Click on the name of a session to see more information about the session or cancel your reservation.
- You can also click on the tab for “Your Sessions” in the upper-left of each Expo page to see a list of sessions.
- Click on 'RSVPed' to see more information about the session or cancel your reservation.
- Attendees may cancel their reservation up until the session begins. A warning will appear whenever a session is canceled.
Want to feel confident at Biola’s Career Expo?
Do you know what type of candidates employers are looking for? Candidates like you! Candidates who are emotionally intelligent, hardworking, critical thinkers, problem solvers, and culture creators. Employers are waiting for you to tell them how you have used all these skills and more. Start by reviewing the resources below to prepare for speaking to employers and understanding how to navigate Handshake.
Preparation Checklist
Research the employers you want to meet with. Make note of their company values, job descriptions, and skills required.
Update your Handshake profile. Be sure to add your previous experiences, skills, and a resume.
Update your resume. Tailor your resume to highlight the skills and experiences relevant to the employers you will meet. For personalized advice schedule an appointment with a Career Center staff member on Handshake.
Prepare your 30-second introduction. A professional elevator pitch is the best way to make a great first impression.
Prepare questions for each employer.
Use Handshake to message employers ahead of the event. This is a great way to make yourself stand out from the crowd. A quick note of introduction, followed by a note of thanks after the event will go a long way in your job search efforts.
Resources
First career expo? This step-by-step guide has everything you need to prepare for and navigate the Career Expos.
Virtual Fair Resources from Handshake
A series of short tutorials and guides from Handshake for a successful expo.
How to Participate in a Virtual Career Fair
Don’t miss this! Handshake provides instructions on how to join sessions on the day of the career expo.
BigInterview: Virtual Interview Practice
Learn how to ace your interview. This free, online tool provides advice and hands-on practice with mock interviews. Use your Biola email address to register.
For personalized advice schedule an appointment with a Career Center staff member on Handshake.
Expo FAQs: Expert Advice
To help students prepare for the Expo, we asked employers and our very own Career Specialists some career and networking-related questions that we collected from Biola students! We hope these Q&As serve you in preparing for networking in both group and 1:1 sessions.
Ryan Aldrich, Program Director at Tahoe Forest Church
Ryan Aldrich has worked with young adults for over two decades. He’s passionate about positively influencing the lives of young people. A career educator, Aldrich’s focus has been leadership, where his experience was gained through serving as a Headmaster, Upper School Director, College Counselor, and Teacher.
Set in an idyllic mountain location, the Tahoe Resident Leadership Program (TRLP) develops and guides aspiring Christian leaders through experiential ministry training. The TRLP Program provides participants with professional skills for planning, organizing, and developing Christian ministries.
Q: What questions should students avoid when networking?
A: “Avoid what I call the two click question. Answers which can be found with two clicks on-line. For example, what is the size of your business? That shows that you have not done your homework. Go deeper and impress employers with questions that reveal critical thinking.”
Q: What do you look for in candidates?
A: “We look for a good fit first. Do their values align with ours? Then, I look at their application and depth in their answers. Were they articulate? Interviews are also important in our hiring process as well as reference checks."
Q: What if I don't feel ready to go into the workforce after graduating?
A: “Perfect! Find a gap year program or residency like ours at the Tahoe Resident Leadership Program where young adults can continue to grow their confidence, hone their leadership skills, grow spiritually, and gain hands-on ministry experience.”
Sarah Carpenter from Teach For America
Teach For America works toward the day when every child will receive an excellent and equitable education. We find and nurture leaders who commit to expanding opportunity for low-income students, beginning with at least two years teaching in a public school.
Q: Do I need to meet certain qualifications to speak to a recruiter?
A: “At Teach For America, the only qualification we’re really looking for is folks to be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or DACA recipients. Due to eligibility criteria from school districts we partner with, we unfortunately cannot offer sponsorship to international students at this time. That being said, we have opportunities for students across all classes, GPAs and academic interests and we’ll happily connect with anyone interested in learning more about our mission.”
Q: What do you look for in candidates?
A: “We look for candidates who are excited about tackling big, systemic issues like educational inequity, and the initiative and commitment to actually doing the work to turn that passion into an actionable reality.”
Q: What if I don't feel ready to go into the workforce after graduating?
A: ”The past two years certainly have presented a multitude of challenges, and it makes sense if you’re closing in on graduation but also feeling like you’re not quite ready to commit to a full-time job. Take some time figuring out what YOU want to do next, and recognize that your next step could look like taking a gap year or two, pursuing an advanced degree, or dappling in a fellowship or two before actually seeking a job in the field that aligns with your undergrad degree.”
Q: Do you have any non-traditional positions (for unrelated majors)?
A: “Absolutely! At Teach For America, we accept applicants from all majors, and actually believe that it is imperative for folks who ultimately want to go into business, law, politics, and medicine to start their careers most proximate to issues of social inequity in order to create a more equal and just nation for all of us.”
Raquel McLeod Career Specialist
Raquel graduated from Whittier College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish. She served in the United States Army for 8 years and deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Prior to coming to Biola she worked in health care for over 15 years as a Director of Business Development and Marketing with various hospitals, physicians, dentist and surgical centers in the Southern California area.
Q: What type of questions should I ask employers at an expo?
A: “What do you value most in a candidate? What next steps do you recommend to become part of your team? Do you have any advice for someone in my shoes? What opportunities are currently available? Could I reach out to you later to learn more about how you got to where you are in your career?”
Q: How can I bring up, “are you hiring?”
A: “Some great ways to ask are: ‘What opportunities are currently available by your company/organization?’; ‘Where are you in your hiring process right now with internships or can you name specific positions if you know it?’; ‘Can I contact after to see if there are any opportunities for me to be part of your team?’”
Q: What if I don't feel ready to go into the workforce after graduating?
A: “It’s ok! Try using CareerExplorer to maybe see what areas it recommends. Additionally, attend different industry employers that sound interesting - it might help guide you or get you excited about life after graduation.”