Reverse Career Fair
The Fifth Annual Reverse Career Fair will be held in-person on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, from 2 - 5 p.m. to 25 select students.
THE SELECTION PROCESS:
- Application period: Dec. 2, 2022 - Feb. 1, 2023
- To apply, please complete this application.
- Interviews for finalists: Ongoing
- Finalists selected: Feb. 24, 2023
- Training: March 2023
- Reverse Career Fair: March 28, 2023, Selby Auditorium (8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243)
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"I liked that I was able to connect with employers in a meaningful way. The employers
knew who they wanted to talk to and the students knew what to say, which made the
conversation much easier. This event redefined how college career fairs can work.
It's about the students." – Lukas Oest, '19
"It was so refreshing to speak to engaged students who knew what they are looking for, and also to gain their perspective on the recruiting process." – Trista Kelly, Recruiter and Outreach Professional, Sarasota County Government
On November 8, 2018, twenty-six selected students broke the mold of the traditional career fair. 82% were offered at least one full-time job or internship. Our reverse career fair model is now recognized as a national best practice by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Career fairs, by design, place power in the hands of employers; they are the stars of the show, waiting for student talent to approach them. We believe the spotlight should be reversed. In this event, each student has their own table, where they greet and interview potential employers – not the other way around.
In this event, the spotlight shines on the real stars: Students! Apply today!
If you have any questions about the reverse career fair, please contact:
Toni Ripo
Coordinator, Career Services
941-359-4703
We look forward to working with you!
More resources can be found in the Reverse Career Fair Toolkit, including templates for event planning, student participant training, marketing, reporting, day-of materials, and more.
This toolkit is also available in the Community Library of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (2019).
A reverse career fair, with proper planning, engages the community in an exciting way. Please see below for examples of our previous media coverage:
Data tell the best stories. To that end, please see below for examples of our event reports – both of which can be found in the Reverse Career Fair Toolkit as templates for general adaptation:
View images taken at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus' first reverse career fair here.