Welcome to Fall! The air is getting cooler, and leaves are changing on campus. It's a lovely time of year to visit JMU and we hope to see you soon.
Registration for spring recruiting events begins on November 3rd! This includes our spring career fairs, on-campus interviews, information tables, and information sessions. If you have a specific day in mind for your recruiting events, please make those requests in Handshake early. Popular dates around career fairs and other important events on campus get taken quickly.
It's not too late to schedule a trip to campus, nor is it too early to lock in dates for your spring recruiting. Set up a time with our team to get your recruiting questions answered or consult about your current strategy.
This edition's features:
Spring 2026 Recruiting
- Spring Career Fair dates - we have 6 fair dates to choose from
- No-cost options to recruit talent including Practice Interview Events and Recruiter Stylist Hour
- UCC Partner Program
Internships and Work-Based Learning
- Welcoming Anna Maria, our Associate Director of Work-Based Learning
- Got Work? How JMU Can Help- Learn how to bring microinternships to your organization
- Virginia Intern and Internship Award Nominiations
Your Feedback Requested
- Employer Survey- tell us what you value in your JMU hires
- President Jim's Listening Tours
- Want to present to classes or student organizations? Let us know!
All the best, Laura
P.S. - Pass It On!
Are there organizations in your network looking to recruit new talent? Share this newsletter with them and let them know they can connect with our Employer Services Team to help navigate their hiring needs, whether they are looking for interns, seasonal or full-time employees.
Got work? jmu can help.
Find out how to secure assistance from JMU through work-based learning opportunities including:
- Micro-internships (20-80 hours of project-oriented work)
- Curricular-connected projects involving JMU faculty and students
- Creating a semester-long internship
Join us in the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub (25 N. Liberty St.) on Wednesday, November 5th from 3:30pm - 5:30pm.
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Stop by anytime during the open hours and meet JMU's work-based learning staff and let us help!
Spring Career Fairs
Registration for Spring Career Fairs opens November 3rd!
- University Career Fair (UCF) Day 1: Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 in the AUBC; this event is catered toward ALL majors
- University Career Fair (UCF) Day 2: Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 in the AUBC; this event is catered toward ALL majors
- CISE Fair: Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 in Festival Ballroom; this event is catered toward the following majors: Biotechnology, Computer Science, Engineering, Geography, Information Technology, Integrated Science & Technology, and Intelligence Analysis
- Hart Fair: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 in Festival Ballroom; this event is catered toward Hospitality and Sport & Recreation Management majors
- Teacher Recruitment Day: Friday, February 20th, 2026 in Festival Ballroom; this event is catered toward Education majors
- Hiring Now Event: Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 in Madison Union Ballroom; this event is catered toward all majors and is limited to 30 companies actively hiring for the summer
When you register for the University Career Fair, you'll be asked to align your registration with one or more career community.
Important Spring Semester Dates
- January 20th: First Day of Classes
- March 16th-20th: Spring Break
- May 6th: Last Day of Classes
Employer Survey
Please take 5 minutes to tell us why you hire JMU students!
President Jim's Listening Tours
President Jim Schmidt wants JMU to be the preferred partner for industry for the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond! If you are in the area of any of his listening tours (Great Falls, VA, Norfolk, VA, Washington, DC, Falls Church, VA, New York, NY, Glen Allen, VA, and Prtola Valley, CA) be sure to attend and help us craft the action steps that will realize this vision. If you can't attend, share your input by responding to his survey questions. President Jim reads every one of them!
Want to Present to Classes or Student Organizations? Let Us Know!
No-Cost Options for Recruiting talent
The UCC offers virtual and in-person programs throughout the year, allowing employers the opportunity to connect with our students in meaningful and creative ways. These programs include Employer Panels, Practice Interview Events, Career Treks and more! Check out the recruiting timeline of these amazing opportunities with the Employer Menu of Services! To get connected, contact handshake@jmu.edu.
And don't forget information tables and sessions are a completely free way to highlight your company on campus!
Practice Interview Events
Our Practice Interview Events (PIE) offer students the opportunity to practice their interview skills without additional pressure and allows them to receive feedback from employers.
Our PIE dates are in! Hope to see you there!
- February 4th, 2026 (Virtual)
- March 6th, 2026 (In-Person)
- April 9th, 2026 (Virtual)
Recruiter Stylist Hour
This is a brand new and fun way to get involved with students! Join us at our student event "Clothes, Cookies, & Resumes" to help students style their workplace attire from our in house Career Closet. Students look up to and value your fashion advice!
Spring dates are being held February 12th and 13th!
Want to get involved? Email handshake@jmu.edu
jmu Career Closet
Hosted and organized by the University Career Center and The Pantry, the JMU Career Closet is a clothing and accessory resource for all JMU students, with a specific focus on work and interview attire. This is a donation-based resource, and students are welcome to take one complete outfit or up to 5 items from the closet each semester, FREE of charge. This has been one of our most popular services and it is still growing!
Our Career Closet just got a major makeover! Before, clothing was separated by type into different rooms and was hung on make-shift clothing racks. NOW, we are so excited to announce that the closet looks like a luxury walk-in closet with built in shelves and hangers.
We would love more donations to help us fill the new additional space (especially blazers and men's clothes!). We welcome your donations at any time and ask that donations be new or gently used; in ready-to-wear condition; with no stains, odors, tears, or missing buttons. All apparel and footwear sizes are needed!
To set up a drop off or get more information about the closet, please contact Alyssa Hawley, adamsar@jmu.edu
Welcome Anna Maria
Anna Maria is our new Associate Director for Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs)!!
Anna Maria began her career combining professional writing, teaching, and tutoring at both Eastern Mennonite University and James Madison University.
Anna Maria now collaborates with JMU faculty to help students discover the value of what they are learning in their coursework and how it applies to internships and other WBLEs. She is also working to support and enhance different WBLE opportunities for students. You might work with Anna Maria if you are hoping to partner with faculty members on course projects and other opportunities adjacent to the classroom. We are so excited to have Anna Maria and hope you all get to work with her soon!
Intern Award Nominations
Nominations for Top Virginia Employers for interns and (NEW) Top Virginia Interns Award nominations are now open! This is your opportunity to recognize your employer's contributions in providing work-based learning opportunities to students.
Also, new this year, is an opportunity to recognize Virginia interns. Nominations are open for a separate award, the Top Virginia Interns Awards. The Commonwealth seeks to recognize the "Top 50 Virginia Interns" and their role as emerging talent and future leaders via this inaugural award.
Nominations for both awards close on February 27, 2026. State-level recognition and award notification will take place by April 1, 2026. The 2026 recipients will also be recognized during a special SCHEV/V-TOP event on Virginia Intern Day (July 30, 2026).
Please use the links below to submit nominations:
We encourage you to take 5 to 10 minutes to complete each nomination form as applicable. Thank you for helping us shine a spotlight on the great work-based learning experiences happening across the Commonwealth.
UCC Partner Program
Looking for help with marketing your positions and events on campus? Consider joining the UCC Partner's Program! There are many benefits to this program, including:
- Enhanced assistance with marketing your events
- A prime location at the University Career Fair
- Company branding opportunities
Want to learn more? Contact Laura Hickerson, at hickerly@jmu.edu
Thank you to our current UCC Partners!
Our UCC staff would like to thank you all for your continued support in recruiting our Dukes! We hope you enjoy the fall season and we look forward to seeing you here at JMU soon. GO DUKES!!!
Connect with the University Career Center on social media @jmucareer!
Credits:
Created with an image by Prostock-studio - "Colored pillow of fresh fallen autumn leaves"