Career Ready Week is designed to help you have a successful UF Career Week experience. From on-demand resources to workshops to one-on-one support, the Career Connections Center is here to ensure you have the tools and information you need!
Important Dates
Career Ready Week: September 7 – September 11, 2026
Career Showcase: September 9 – September 16, 2026
A career fair is where employers and students seeking a job or internship can network together and discuss available opportunities. Students can also learn more about the different industries and career pathways available to them. A fair normally consists of recruiters from different companies at individual tables, sometimes they are even UF alumni. The recruiters can talk about the open positions, whether it is jobs or internships, as well as what the application and interview process entail.
Networking is one of the most common ways to hear about employment opportunities. By attending career showcase, you can walk away with organization and industry knowledge that can help enhance your resume as well as guide you on your career path. You also have the opportunity to put your face with your resume.
Exploring: Career Showcase can be a great opportunity to learn more about different career pathways and organizations. By the time you are in your junior and senior years looking for jobs and internships, you will be a career fair expert!
Internship Seeking: You might be going to learn about specific organizations and what opportunities they can offer you.
Full Time Job Seeking: You might be ready to find full-time employment after graduation and make a personal connection with companies you are interested in.
Opportunity Meet-Up: Opportunity Meet-Up is a networking event without the boundaries of the career fair. The event allows students and employers to connect in a relaxed environment.
Technical Day: Technical day focuses on connecting students to employers with opportunities in engineering, information technology, research & development, architecture, programming, construction, and biomedical manufacturing, and other technical professions.
Non-Technical Day: Non-Technical day connects students to employers with opportunities in accounting, management, sales, government, finance, hospitality, healthcare, communications, marketing, social services, and other non-technical professions.
Computer & Information Science & Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Day: The University of Florida Computer & Information Science & Engineer and AI Fair is hosted specifically for companies who are hiring students and alumni with experience in computer science, computer engineering, digital arts and sciences, data science, cybersecurity and AI/machine learning.
How Should I Prepare for Career Showcase?
Use Gator CareerLink to find the list of employers attending Career Week!
Prepare questions or comments about the organization and positions that interest you.
Quinncia: Perfect your Applicant Tracking System (ATS)-friendly resume and discover helpful resources. Our AI assistant, Quinn, will help you enhance your resume with an unlimited amount of resume uploads. You can also practice AI mock interviews with audio, video, and content feedback and get your LinkedIn profile reviewed.
Drop-In Career Planning: The C3 offers extended Drop-In Career Planning hours to ensure you are well-equipped to have a successful UF Career Week. This event is only available for current UF students and alumni up to one year after graduation. Although no appointment is needed, there may be a wait time during peak times. To support your UF Career Week questions and preparation, students will have access to 15-minute drop-in meetings.
Quinncia: Utilize Quinncia to record and receive instant feedback on your elevator pitch and complete a mock interview.
Drop-In Career Planning: The C3 offers extended Drop-In Career Planning hours to ensure you are well-equipped to have a successful UF Career Week. This event is only available for current UF students and alumni up to one year after graduation. Although no appointment is needed, there may be a wait time during peak times. To support your UF Career Week questions and preparation, students will have access to 15-minute drop-in meetings.
Be sure to wear business professional if you are planning to speak to recruiters at Career Showcase. Remember to check out the Molm Family Gator Career Closet!
- Wear comfortable shoes! It is much easier to speak with recruiters if you are comfortable when standing or walking for long periods of time.
CAREER SHOWCASE FAQs
A folder or portfolio with your printed resumes. If you have different career interests, be sure to bring different resumes tailored to your interests. Your list of questions & talking points. A pen & paper.
Different recruiters might have different styles. So try to be flexible with the person you are speaking to. Some employers might ask for your resume right away. Others might not. Make sure you have questions or topics to talk about if they want you to ask questions. If you need to practice your elevator pitch, drop by extended Express Drop-In hours the week before showcase.
Some sample questions:
What are you looking for in a candidate?
As a first year student, I have some time to plan ahead. What would you recommend any skills or experience I should gain that would be attractive in this industry?
What types of projects do interns work on at your organization?
Can you tell me about your hiring timelines for internships/full-time positions?
Recruiters will expect you to be professional with a firm handshake, good eye contact, and genuineness. Be able to introduce yourself and be knowledgeable about their organization. Also, be sensitive of a recruiter’s time at a fair. If there is a long line, make sure you are being concise and considerate.
If you received contact information from the recruiter, be sure to send a thank you email within 24 hours of the fair. Follow up on any information requested or any follow up questions you ask. Be sure to reference something specific in your conversation to allow the recruiter to remember you. Even if you do not receive a response back, be sure to send a thank you message.
- Not being dressed appropriately or being unkempt. Be sure to avoid strong perfume, lotions, or colognes.
- Monotone or over-rehearsed pitch. Be sure to remember that career fairs are about conversations!
- Not paying attention while waiting in line. Recruiters might be watching while you are waiting in line. Make sure you are still being professional.
- Being unprepared. Employers want you to know about their company. Make sure you do your research.
That is okay. You won’t click with everyone. You can always find a Career Center employee to talk to.
Career Week Tours
Whether this is your first Career Week or you’re a veteran, you’re invited to join career coaches for a tour and overview of Career Showcase. The tours will include learning all the resources available at the fair and discuss how to connect with employers successfully, plus we’ll highlight the many Career Pathways you can explore.
Career Week tours are open to all UF students and alumni. For each tour, enter the O’Connell Center at Gate 3, go through security and student check-in, and then look for Career Showcase Tour signs in the hallway beyond check-in. Business professional attire is recommended for Career Showcase, but for tours, feel free to come as you are.
Fall 2026 Tour Schedule
- 1:55 p.m.
- 3:00 p.m.
- 4:05 p.m.
- 5:10 p.m.
- 9:35 a.m.
- 10:40 a.m.
- 11:45 a.m.
- 12:50 p.m.
- 1:55 p.m.
- 9:35 a.m.
- 10:40 a.m.
- 11:45 a.m.
- 12:50 p.m.
- 1:55 p.m.
