2026 Spring Job Fairs!
YOUR Career Center would like to invite you to attend our annual Spring Job Fairs. Open to students, community, faculty, and staff - free for job seekers!
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – Fort Steilacoom Campus, Cascade building 3rd floor
- 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – dedicated to veterans, active duty and military connected students and community members.
- 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Open to all
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 - Puyallup Campus, College Center 2nd floor
- 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – dedicated to veterans, active duty and military connected students and community members.
- 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Open to all
The Spring Job Fair is for YOU. Visit with recruiters to learn about their organization, talk about open positions, and review their application process. Many registered employers are offering internships and open to Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students. Stop by the resume review table for tips and recommendations to help your resume be ready for an application tracking system and attractive to desired employers.
Attending job fairs early in your education connects you with recruiters who can answer questions about your career pathway and provide insights that may change which courses you choose. These events can also lead to possible internships, job-shadowing, informational interviews, volunteer opportunities, and more! View registered employers in Handshake and note that some employers may attend one or both days.
Not sure what to expect during a job fair? Need to make a resume or update an existing resume? Unsure of what to say to recruiters? Stop by or schedule an appointment with Career Center staff to review your resume, talk through how to prepare for a job fair, and practice your elevator pitch or other questions you may have about job fairs.
The Financial Aid Priority Timeline for Summer Term is May 4
If you plan to attend college in the 2026-2027 academic year, which starts summer term for Pierce College, now is a great time to complete your 2026-2027 Financial Aid Application. Additionally, many scholarships have early deadlines ahead of the next academic year.
Assistance completing your FAFSA or WAFSA application is available at no cost. MDC collocated staff are available to help in person or remotely! See staff directory for contact information.
Be Your Own Cheerleader!
Whether during an interview, attending a job fair, or networking, advocating for yourself can feel uncomfortable at first. Below are some tips and strategies for connecting with employers.
Know your short- and long-term goals. This takes some time and research. What career pathway are you currently pursuing and where can it take you? What occupations/job titles could you apply to once you complete each step of your education? There are many resources to help you do research: My Next Move or Washington Career Bridge.
What are some of your favorite accomplishments? This could be something from your work experience, volunteering, community service, school, or a personal accomplishment. Be able to explain how you contributed to that accomplishment and why it has made an impact on your life.
Be able to identify strengths and areas of growth. Employers often ask you to identify these in an interview. Have 3-5 of each prepared that you are comfortable sharing.
Have examples prepared. Employers will often ask you to tell them about a time when something specific happened. Preparing several examples ahead of time will help to boost your confidence and you will be able to answer on the spot. Be sure to include what the situation/challenge was, what action(s) did YOU take, and what was the end result.
Be open. Making eye contact, offering up a smile, being the first to say hello can help to set the stage for opening up a conversation and making a human connection.
Federal Resume Updates
Applying for a Federal job requires a different type of resume than what is often used. As of September 2025, the expectations for applying to federal jobs through USA Jobs have streamlined the process. Previously, a federal resume may have been four or more pages, including all employment history, salary information, supervisor contacts and even addresses for each employer.
The new standard is a maximum of two pages for your federal resume. In fact, USA Jobs will not accept a resume that is longer and prior resumes saved to a profile on USA Jobs have been removed. Remove outdated and non-relevant experience. Demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level stated on the announcement and use metrics and numbers when possible. Include education, certifications, licensing, security clearance (if applicable) along with any other job-related training. For veterans, uploading your DD214 will verify veteran status, so you can omit military experience on your resume unless it is specifically relatable.
Up to 10 supplemental documents can be saved separately, such as references, transcripts, DD214, or awards if needed. Be sure to review the job announcement carefully for what is required.
Users can also use the “build a resume” tool within their USA Jobs profile and then edit or duplicate the resume for different versions and further editing. The preview option will let you know if you meet the two-page requirements. A user can make one resume searchable by recruiters which will remain active for 12 months on the USA Jobs website. A total of five resumes can be saved to a profile.
Standard margins at 0.5 inches, 10pt font for main content 14pt for headings. PDF, Word, JPEG or PNG are accepted, but PDF is best.
Have more questions? Contact the Career Center for more tips and guidance or visit the events page on USA Jobs for future resume workshops or their YouTube page for recordings of prior resume workshops.