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By the time Leeds students step into the Career Fair each semester, many have already spent weeks preparing. And that preparation pays off: the Class of 2025 achieved a 99.2% overall career outcomes rate.

The Career Fair has become an increasingly valuable connection point for both students and employers. This fall, 122 employers met with 1,100 students, building on Career Week activities that brought 26 industry representatives to campus for resume reviews, networking and interview coaching with 201 students. Over 100 students participated in Instant Interviews with 17 companies.

After the fair, Leeds Career and Personal Brand Advisor Magan Taylor shared on LinkedIn what she had heard from employers: “Our students showed up professional and polished. Polish doesn’t happen the morning of a career fair. It happens months before, in the reps students don’t think of as career prep: Presenting in class. Running a club meeting. Working a shift where you talk to 50 strangers before lunch. ... The work happened long before the handshake.”

From practice to poised

Senior Tai Ngo (BusAna’27) hadn’t planned on attending this year’s fair because of uncertain post-graduation plans. Still, after his Python class, he headed to the Limelight Hotel to practice networking and explore companies across industries.

How was Ngo able to go on a whim and make those connections? Practice. “Any Leeds event that has involved human interaction and networking helped prepare me a lot,” he said, adding:

“Interacting with other people at these events has helped me improve my speaking skills and become more comfortable having conversations with strangers.”

Each opportunity, he said, builds confidence and conversational skill. “The more you do it, the more you start to notice patterns in your conversations. I mainly think about how to make those conversations more interesting instead of following a typical A-B-C format.”

Ngo has also let curiosity guide other opportunities at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder and Leeds, including pursuing a Korean minor and Global Business Certificate, as well as studying in South Korea last spring. He described the latter as life-changing: “Studying abroad opened my eyes to the possibilities that are out there when you choose to explore them.”

Employers notice the difference

Recruiters saw evidence of student preparation firsthand. Rae Hatakeyama, a talent recruiter with memoryBlue, a Leeds Career Corporate Partner, said every interaction with Leeds students “continues to blow us away.” She added:

“The level of professionalism from Leeds students makes �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder a standout in our partnerships.”

Brooklyn Williamson, a university recruiter with Crowe Advisory LLC, a Leeds Career Corporate Partner, saw students who had researched the firm, arrived with thoughtful questions and could speak confidently about their experiences and interests. Those are precisely the qualities Crowe seeks, she said: communication, curiosity, professionalism and the ability to connect coursework and experience to the workplace.

For Nicholas Skozcen, a regional recruiter with Fastenal, the connection between preparation and performance was particularly clear. Students who had met Fastenal representatives at the previous day’s prep workshop stopped by the booth and could explain who referred them and why they wanted to learn more.

“Communication skills were excellent with the candidates we engaged with,” Skozcen said, pointing especially to questions that went beyond the typical “what is your company?”

Nathan Deines, campus recruiter, workforce strategies and talent outreach with PNC Bank, a Leeds Career Corporate Partner, had a similar experience. “Most of the students I interacted with were professionally dressed, comfortable asking questions, and genuinely eager to learn more about our opportunities and where they might fit into the enterprise,” he said. He especially appreciated interactions that “felt more like a conversation rather than rapid-fire questions,” as well as students who had researched opportunities and applied before the fair. That preparation allowed them to ask more targeted questions.��

The enduring importance of face-to-face conversations

As the Career Fair demonstrates, conversational skills still matter—maybe even more—in an increasingly digital hiring environment.

“Career fairs are incredibly valuable because they give employers an opportunity to connect with students beyond what we can learn from a resume,” Williamson said. An in-person conversation, she added, offers insight into students’ interests, communication style and career goals—and can help employers identify talent for current or future opportunities.

For Deines, technical knowledge is only part of career readiness:

“The candidates who stand out most are those who can communicate effectively, demonstrate professionalism and build authentic connections."

��“We look for students who ask thoughtful questions, show genuine curiosity and can clearly articulate how their academic, leadership and extracurricular experiences have prepared them for the workplace," he added.

Connections that continue

The Career Fair serves undergraduate and graduate students at different stages of their careers. Thomas Boyle (MBA/MSBA’27), who is pursuing healthcare opportunities, appreciated both the range of employers and signage identifying the roles companies hoped to fill. That, he said, “allowed for more intentional networking and let students make the most of their time.”

Marine Corps veteran Michael Zamora (MBA’27) turned his Career Fair experience into an interview with Northwestern Mutual.

And the work doesn’t end when the booths come down.

“While we focus on readiness and support leading up to the fair, we also focus on maintaining the momentum,” said Angie Vermillion, associate director of employer relations at Leeds. Students can continue meeting with industry professionals and employers through info sessions, meet-and-greets, and coffee chats.

“We’re not saying, ‘OK, the event’s over … good luck,” Vermillion emphasized, noting Leeds’ continued investment in building partnerships with employers and students. She explained:

“Our commitment to our employers and students doesn’t end when the Career Fair does. We want to continue building those relationships, supporting meaningful connections, and making sure both employers and students are getting value from their experience with Leeds. That’s why we’re here.”

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