The 2026 Fall HBCU CONNECT Virtual Conference & Career Fair

EVENT OVERVIEW

Your Next Career Move Starts Here! Join us on October 21st from 9 AM to 5 PM ET for an exclusive virtual career fair. Connect with top employers, explore grad school options, and access free professional development sessions to advance your career.

EVENT LOCATION

This will be a virtual event hosted on the vFairs leading online career fair platform. Official link to be provided to participating attendees

EVENT DATE

October 21 from 9am to 6pm ET

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Professionals including students, alumni, and job seekers (active and passive)in search of excellent networking and career opportunities.

Over 5,000+ Past Attendees!

The vFairs Virtual Environment

How To Attend

Register by completing the form on this page.

Share the event with your friends and colleagues.

On October 21st , visit https://careerfair.hbcuconnect.com

Get ready to network, learn, and take the next step in your career journey!

Why Attend?

Opportunities Don't Happen, You Create Them!

Attending our virtual career fair will help you build skills, expand your network, and gain industry insights. It’s a practical way to practice introductions, learn about unadvertised roles, understand company cultures, and make valuable connections beyond online applications, boosting your confidence and uncovering hidden opportunities.

Direct Access To Top Employers

Gain unparalleled access to recruiters and hiring managers from a wide variety of industries. Whether you're an HBCU student looking for internships or an HBCU alum seeking new opportunities, this event connects you directly with employers who are actively seeking diverse talent

Networking With Like-minded Professionals

Build your network by connecting with other HBCU students and alumni who share your career aspirations. This event is an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and form relationships that can lead to mentorship, collaboration, and future opportunities.

Free Professional Development Sessions

Enhance your career readiness with free professional development sessions tailored specifically for HBCU students and alumni. Learn from industry experts, refine your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and get valuable insights into navigating today's job market

SAVE YOUR SPOT NOW

Registration Now

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Event Schedule

Agenda

All Sessions

October 21, 2026 09:30

Career Search Best Practices

Navigating today’s job market requires more than simply submitting applications. This interactive workshop is designed to equip participants with the essential tools and strategies needed to conduct an effective and successful career search. Attendees will learn how to create a polished, professional resume through proper formatting techniques, understand common resume dos and don’ts, craft a compelling professional summary statement, and review examples of effective resumes that capture employer attention. The session will also provide valuable interview tips, including what recruiters evaluate before, during, and after an interview. In addition, participants will gain insight into interviewing with hiring managers, including how to prepare before the interview, understand the purpose and structure of behavioral interviewing, and confidently communicate their experiences using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method. By the end of the workshop, participants will be better prepared to market their skills, make a strong impression throughout the hiring process, and increase their confidence in pursuing career opportunities.

Valerie Davis, Sr. Program Manager

U.S. Bank

October 21, 2026 10:00

Amplify, Don't Replace: Using AI to Elevate Your Career Search and Network

Discover how to leverage AI as a tool to strengthen your career strategy while keeping the human element at the center. This session will explore practical ways to use AI for career exploration, personal branding, professional storytelling, and networking, while emphasizing the importance of authenticity, relationship-building, and your unique experiences. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for using AI intentionally to support their career journey without losing their individual voice.

Gabrielle Styles, PhD, Executive Career and Leadership Coach

Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

October 21, 2026 11:00

Future-Ready: The Human Skills That Keep Your Career Moving Forward

As AI reshapes how we work, the skills that make us uniquely human are becoming more valuable. This interactive session explores how emotional intelligence, adaptability, continuous learning, and thoughtful use of AI can help professionals stay relevant, build stronger relationships, and navigate change with confidence. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen their professional value, embrace new opportunities, and intentionally prepare for what's next in their careers.

Dr. Shawana Carter-Barnett, Manager, Talent Management Business Partners

Dr. Maria Martinez, Senior Manager, People & Culture

Greenway Health

October 21, 2026 12:00

Networking for Emerging Professionals

Building meaningful professional relationships starts with confidence, curiosity, and authentic connection. Join Paramita Sarkar, Internship Program Specialist at Art Bridges Foundation, for an interactive session designed to help students and emerging professionals strengthen their networking skills. Participants will learn practical strategies for making strong introductions, building lasting professional relationships, and expanding their networks both in person and online. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and increased confidence to cultivate meaningful connections and support their career growth.

Paramita Sarkar, Internship Program Specialist

October 21, 2026 13:00

Negotiation Strategies for Early Career Professionals

A workshop built on the WIN Framework -- Worth Identification, Intentional Preparation, Negotiation Execution -- teaching early career professionals how to negotiate an offer, a salary or a raise even when they feel they lack the experience, title or authority to ask. Most students and recent graduates are never taught this, and the gap follows them for years. Delivered previously at NSBE and at USC.

Kara Belle Arnold, Founder

WIN Leadership Institute

October 21, 2026 16:00

Beyond the Resume: Build Your AI Career & Opportunity Portfolio Workshop

A working session, not a presentation. You will build the first blocks of your own AI Equity Opportunity Portfolio, using Afrofuturistic thinking, Sankofa, Ubuntu and AI to map what you already hold — identity, knowledge, skills, lived experience, relationships and community assets — into real opportunities across careers, entrepreneurship, consulting, intellectual property, fellowships and income streams. Bring a blank Google Sheet. You will leave with something you can keep building.

Antione Hines, Founder & Chief Black Ecosystem Builder

Synergistic Strategic Solutions

Connect With Our Partners At The Event

Exhibitors Sign up

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a virtual career fair?: The virtual career fair allows you to interact with employers, participate in workshops, and explore job opportunities from the comfort of your own home. You'll access the event through our online platform.
How do I participate?: Register online by uploading your resume. On the day of the event, log into the platform using the provided link. You'll be able to visit virtual booths, join live sessions, and network with recruiters.
What technology do I need?: You’ll need a computer or mobile device with a stable internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone for video chats or interviews.
How do I prepare?: Ensure your resume is up to date, dress professionally, and test your equipment before the event. Research participating companies and have questions ready.
Will I be able to interview during the event?: Yes! Many employers will offer live chat and video interview options. Be prepared for on-the-spot interviews and follow-up discussions.
How do I network with employers?: You can chat with recruiters through virtual booths, attend Q&A sessions, and request one-on-one meetings.
Can I attend workshops or sessions?: Absolutely! The event includes professional development workshops, industry-specific panels, and skill-building sessions to boost your career.
What happens after the fair?: Follow up with employers you connected with by sending a thank-you email or applying to positions discussed during the event.
Will the companies choose in advance who they'd like to interview, based on resumes from the pool?: They will receive all resumes of attendees 1 week before the event and they can reach out to candidates individually before the event, OR they will be looking for candidates live at the event to invite them into a video chat to interview.
Do candidates have the opportunity to express interest/ interview with multiple companies during the same day?: Yes, we will have companies active at the event from 9am until 5pm and most will be there all day or post their booth hours at the event at their booths. They will have multiple team members there to chat/talk to candidates.
How often do the companies extend offers based on the activity from the career fair?: We have had candidates hired at all of our past career fairs. Some companies have hired up to 25 candidates at our past career fairs.