Most MCS in-person career fairs follow a similar format: employers host booths, and students circulate to speak with representatives. This makes it easy to compare opportunities and meet potential colleagues. You’ll see this setup at the February Startup Fair; but below are a few details specific to this event to know in advance.
1. The participating employers may not be familiar to you.
Startups are new organizations with a small number of employees, so they will not have the brand-recognition of large employers at other fairs.
You can review the descriptions for the 50+ attending organizations in advance of the fair. You can also search and filter on things like: Who is looking for Master’s students? Or, who is hiring for internships and/or full-time roles?
2. You do not need to study Computer Science to take advantage of this event!
One of the unique things about startups is that they can exist across all industries and employment sectors. In addition to “Industry,” use the “Types of Positions Being Filled” filter to explore the “job function,” which is the kind of work you might do for the organization.
3. The event is at the Harvard i-Lab.
The Startup Fair will take place at the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-Lab) at 125 Western Ave on the Allston campus. It is a 10-15 minute walk from the MCS office at 54 Dunster Street. Please remember to give yourself enough travel time if you are coming from Cambridge or Longwood.
Need a ride?
Regular shuttle service is available to take you to and from the Startup Fair. Look for the Allston Loop, Quad-SEC Direct, and SEC Express shuttles on Harvard Shuttle Schedule & Routes.
4. Bring your curiosity and your resume!
Participating organizations may not expect you to know as much about them as the employers at other fairs do. However, you should be prepared to ask questions like, “What kind of projects do interns work on?” Our Expand Your Network resources will help you approach this.
Plan to bring copies of your resume. Some employers will collect a copy; others won’t. Regardless, your resume acts a bit like your business card, helping people remember you and have the information they need to get back to you. In addition, preparing your resume helps you articulate your skills when it comes time to speak to an organization representative.
More career fair advice and tips…
- MCS webinar: Career Fair Success! Tips to Navigate Larger Events with Employers
- MCS blog post: 6 Tips for Attending a Career Fair
