By Francisco Velazquez

When students step into the MSUFCU Club at Spartan Stadium on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., they will encounter a buzzing room filled with nearly 70 top employers, crisp professional attire, and life-changing career conversations. For many Spartans, the MSU All Majors Student Success and Access Career Fair feels like a seamless afternoon where opportunities effortlessly align.  

Yet, behind that polished set-up lies a 12-month effort in event strategy, logistics, and dedication from Michigan State University’s Career Services Network (CSN).  

Though the event dates back two decades in various forms and names, the shift to holding this signature all majors fair in early fall was an intentional call to match accelerating industry trends.  

"We moved it to the fall a couple years ago because employer hiring timelines have gotten earlier. A lot of employers are making offers in the fall for post-graduation. Having it in the fall helps us catch those employers looking to recruit earlier on while keeping relationships open for summer internships,” said Whitney Denney, Senior Events Manager for CSN. 

By staying attuned to changing recruitment cycles across finance, tech, healthcare, government, and consumer goods, the CSN team ensures Spartans gain early access to competitive full-time and internship positions. It’s an evolution driven by student opportunities that has also impacted the size of the event. The fair has become one of the larger fairs across Michigan’s array of universities, proving that the employers and attendees alike see MSU’s rendition as beneficial.  

Along with Denney, Alyson Liang is also a vital team member, serving as event coordinator for CSN. Together, they map out many of the details for the event, ultimately coming up with a timeline.  

How the Fair Comes to Life: A 12-Month Playbook 

A three-hour event requires nearly a year of planning. The CSN team operates on a detailed, multi-stage timeline to ensure every detail runs smoothly:  

10–12 Months Out: Debrief & Review ➔ Venue and Date Selection (Navigating Schedules) 

6 Months Out: Handshake Portal Launch ➔ Employer Registration Opens ➔ Sponsorship Packages 

2–3 Months Out: Catering Orders ➔ Parking Requests ➔ Student Marketing and Outreach Campaigns 

1 Month Out: Student Volunteer Recruitment ➔ Calling Campaigns ➔ Staffing Matrix Finalized 

1 Week Out: Signage & QR Printing ➔ Final Employer Logistics ➔ Van Packing and Equipment Hauling 

Planning begins as soon as the previous fair wraps up. After analyzing debrief surveys, the team works around academic calendars and MSU Athletics home schedules to lock down venue dates at Spartan Stadium. Employer registration opens six months in advance through Handshake, accompanied by multi-channel recruitment outreach ranging from direct phone calls to door-to-door visits with local East Lansing businesses.  

Heavy Lifting Behind the Scenes 

The seamless execution on fair day is powered by CSN's dedicated student interns. Working behind the scenes, these interns handle student-centric marketing by creating accessible visual maps, social graphics, and Handshake event banners designed specifically by students, for students.  

Arts and Humanities third-year and Career Services Student Event Intern, Lucy Moline, says her involvement predominately includes communicating with employers, promoting fairs to students, and prepping fair materials. As a current undergraduate student, Moline sympathizes with the stress of seeking internships and other professional experiences. Being able to address this anxiety for so many students in showing them what CSN has to offer has been fulfilling.   

“Aside from the obvious networking that this position allows me to engage in, I am additionally grateful for the career development knowledge I have gained from my time with Career Services,” Moline said. “From participating in employer panels to resume workshops, the insight I have gained throughout my time with Career Services has given me so much more confidence in entering the workforce post-grad.” 

On the logistics side, they coordinate parking pass QR codes, process check-ins, create layout maps, and manage booth assignments for dozens of corporate partners. Their heavy lifting culminates in the days leading up to the fair, when team members pack supply carts, load transport vans, and roll out physical infrastructure across the stadium venue to ensure everything is in place. 

Along with Moline, Liang is proud of the work because she too knows what it was like to be an MSU student.  

"When I finish all the maps and details, I feel so satisfied and proud. As an MSU alumna, working here is my dream job, and knowing we built this for the students makes all the hard work worth it,” said Liang.  

Removing Barriers to Student Success 

The Career Services Network prioritizes accessibility so every student feels ready and confident. Through initiatives like the Career Clothing Closet, free professional attire is available at the Student Services Building (SSB) so wardrobe constraints never hold a student back. To offer even more options, collaborations with retailers like JCPenney provide extra discounts on professional wear for Spartans.  

Additionally, through new guided career fair tours, new or nervous students can join walk-throughs on fair day. These tours guide students through check-in, explain booth layouts, and facilitate low-pressure employer introductions. 

Genell Dorty, Student Success & Employer Engagement Coordinator, is a first-generation student who says she knows firsthand how intimidating and overwhelming it can feel walking into a career fair or employer engagement opportunity when you haven’t had that experience before. Removing barriers means more than giving every student access to attend a fair. It means giving students the preparation, resources, and support they need to feel confident walking through those doors and engaging with employers. 

“This year, through my initiative, the Career Readiness Program, we offered students multiple opportunities to prepare and build confidence. Through employer-featured workshops, in-person career preparation, and guided career fair tours, students could build skills, ask questions, become familiar with the experience, and feel more prepared to connect with employers. Our goal is to make sure every student can walk through those doors feeling that they belong, that they are prepared, and that they have the opportunity to succeed,” said Dorty. 

Join Us at Spartan Stadium 

Whether you are a first-year student exploring options or a senior pursuing full-time entry-level opportunities, the MSU All Majors Student Success and Access Career Fair 2026 provides a supportive environment to build meaningful professional connections. 

• When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 
• Where: MSUFCU Club, Spartan Stadium (535 Chestnut Rd, East Lansing, MI) 
• Who: Open to all MSU students, all majors, and all class levels 
• What to Bring: Updated resumes and Spartan pride 

For more information, preparation guides, or to access the Career Closet, visit Handshake or head to careernetwork.msu.edu.