How to Win at a College Career Fair

A lifelong athlete, Gracie Johnson ’25 approached her career path with the same strategy as any field hockey match: a game plan. Her gameday strategy was fueled by Lebanon Valley College’s Breen Center for Career and Professional Development, and Johnson is sharing it with other students looking for a winning combination.

Begin Exploring Career Fairs Early to Gain an Edge

Johnson, an Actuarial Science and Economics double major, attended LVC’s Actuarial Science Career Fair as a first-year student to learn what to expect and start building her ease and confidence when talking with employers.

Get Career Fair Ready with Résumé Reviews and Mock Sessions

Before attending her first career fair, she connected with the Breen Center for a résumé review and attended their prep session ahead of the event.

“My advice for students attending the job fair is to be confident and comfortable,” said Johnson. “Of course, companies are focused on your skills and previous experience, but in my experience, companies also place a heavy focus on your ability to talk with them, person to person, easily.”

Turn Career Fair Connections into Internship Opportunities

Johnson found two actuarial internships through the career fair, one at Highmark Health and the other at Cigna Healthcare. At Highmark, she worked on pricing insurance plans in accordance with government policies, like the Affordable Care Act.

“My favorite thing about this internship was getting to see firsthand what ‘a day in the life’ of an actuary looked like,” said Johnson. “I experienced the type of projects and material I would work on as a full-time actuary, rather than just theorizing about it in class.”

At Cigna, Johnson worked on the Pharmacy Pricing team, completing multiple group and individual side projects, as well as several case studies.

“The most prominent case study was focused on Pricing and Underwriting, and included three rounds of group collaboration and competition, and finished with an extensive presentation of strategy and results,” said Johnson. “I had the privilege of becoming very close with my fellow interns and found many mentors, whom I still keep in touch with today.”

Use Career Fair Experiences to Launch Your Career

Johnson’s Actuarial Science classes and internships complemented each other, especially related to communication, presentation skills, and technical ability, combining to prepare her for career success.

Johnson received four job offers through LVC’s job fair and other avenues, and ultimately, accepted a position to return to Highmark Healthcare as an Actuarial Analyst after graduation.