Careers Events, Fairs & Festivals
Summary of our Careers Events
Cambridge University Careers Fairs are your opportunity to meet a wide range of employers across several sectors. Cambridge students, Postdocs & alum are very welcome to attend.
Learn directly from employers across a variety of sectors and develop your skills for the workplace. The programme features interactive case study workshops, assessment centre simulations, group discussions, insight sessions with Q&A and more.
When: afternoons during Michaelmas and Lent terms (60-90 minute sessions).
Where: Student Services Centre or virtually via Handshake.
How to register: check out our skills sessions collection on Handshake and sign up for any sessions that interest you!
Spaces are limited.
Events for Lent term to be announced soon.
A package of on-demand resources and interactive workshops throughout the year for those who are just getting started with thinking about their next steps, through to making applications for jobs and postgraduate study and navigating recruitment processes.
Coming up in Lent term:
13 January 2026 - Getting ready for Interviews
15 January 2026 - Effective Cover Letters & Application Statements
15 January 2026 - Effective CVs
25 February 2026 - What to do when it's not going to plan?
Career Essentials for PhDs and Postdocs
A package of resources and workshops designed to meet the core career needs of early career researchers.
Coming up in Lent term:
13 January 2026 - Getting Started with Career Planning for PhDs
15 January 2026 - Considering your Career: Academia and Beyond (Postdocs)
5 March 2026 - Narrative CVs
10 March 2026 - Junior Research Fellowship applications
Creative Careers Festival - January to February
Panel events, insights and resources - an overview of the roles and routes available in publishing, performing arts, production, gaming, museums, media and more.
Policy, Charity & International Development Festival - January to February
Speed networking, a series of panel discussions with representatives working in the sector and other resources to help you move on in the sector.
Discovering Careers in Science and Tech: Research and Beyond – January to February
A series of networking events and employer-led skills sessions to help you discover the broad range of careers available in Science and Tech.
Green Careers Festival - February
Led by our flagship Green Careers Fair, this festival helps you discover career paths and opportunities in sustainability and environment-related organisations. Organised in collaboration with Cambridge Zero.
Focus on Fellowships - February to March
Ever wondered if a fellowship might be right for you?
I'm a Researcher, what next? - April to June
A series of events for PhDs and Postdocs to support you to consider what you want from your next career step and to explore a wide range of career options.
Finalist Focus - June to July
A programme of activities to help you prepare for what comes after your course. Includes the Graduate Jobs Fair.
Navigating the Academic Job Market - October to December
A series of events for PhDs and Postdocs to support you to explore next steps in academia.
Q&A Panel discussions
Hear from and network with alumni and experts in their field. Hear tips on how they got in and what the work involves. Includes the Policy panel, Scientific, Innovation & Technical Consulting event and Neurodiversity panel.
Employer recruitment and networking events
An opportunity for informal discussion with groups of employers from a specific sector.
Employer Presentations
Ask your questions about recruitment and learn about an organisation's culture.
Employer 1:1 sessions
Informal 1:1 chats to ask questions to an employer representative about their organisation, sector or recruitment process, CV and application advice.
Plus dozens of one-off events covering a huge range of careers topics. Find out more and book on the Events page on Handshake. New events are added regularly.
How to make the most of a careers fair
- Watch our YouTube Playlist: Making the Most of Careers Fairs
- Read our Careers Fair Blog
- Do your research
- Complete your Handshake profile and update your CV. Follow employers on Handshake to get notifications when key activities occur
- View company profiles on Handshake to find out what roles they are advertising and events they are running for Cambridge students and graduates
- View company recruitment websites, social platforms
- Research news and articles
- Ask questions
- Dress appropriately and if joining a virtual event, consider your background
- Take notes - they might be useful in future applications
- For in-person fairs, if you would benefit from talking to an employer in a quieter environment you can ask to see them in a 'quiet room' next to the main fair
- Follow up after events
- Follow speakers on LinkedIn
Top Tips
- Search job postings on Handshake and save your searches, so relevant vacancies arrive in your inbox all year round - not just from firms at the event.
- Select your industry interests on Handshake to receive targeted emails from employers regarding their events and vacancies.
- Sign up to receive our newsletters
Are you an employer interested in these events? Go to our employer site.