What Recruiters Look for at Babson’s Undergraduate Career Fair

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Hillary Chabot

Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.

September 28, 2026

Babson college undergraduate students at career fair.

Babson students dressed professionally with resumes in hand at the annual Undergraduate Business Career Fair in September. (Photo: Nic Czarnecki/Babson College)

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Every fall and spring, the Hoffman Family Undergraduate Center for Career Development brings dozens of employers to campus for Babson College’s Undergraduate Business Career Fair. The event gives students an opportunity to network with recruiters, explore industries they may not have considered, and learn about internships and full-time positions across a wide range of fields.

The well-attended fair is just one of many programs embedded throughout Babson, part of a college-wide culture of career preparedness created to ensure students secure fulfilling jobs long after they have earned their diplomas. Recognition for that preparation continues to roll in, with U.S. News & World Report ranking Babson the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship for the 30th consecutive time, No. 9 nationally for co-ops and internships, and the No. 1 best value school in the North. Babson also ranked No. 2 in the nation by The Wall Street Journal, and No. 1 for career preparedness.

This year’s fair hosted 40 employers ranging from major financial organizations such as EY and PwC to fast-growing companies such as RMS USA, a North Andover toy manufacturer experiencing rapid expansion after the viral success of its Mystery Squishy Dumplings product.

But what exactly makes a student stand out in a crowded room full of candidates?

According to some of the recruiters who attended the fair, it often comes down to more than a resume.

Professionalism Makes an Impression

For Katie Kelly, senior talent acquisition specialist with the Boston Red Sox, one quality stood out immediately when she arrived on campus: professionalism.

“I recruit at Babson because coming to this event specifically showcases how professional the students are,” Kelly said. “Everyone is dressed very professionally.”

Kelly said that polish and competence is why she continues to return to Babson’s career fairs, noting that the organization has hired Babson interns and full-time employees in the past.

For students attending future fairs, the message is clear: first impressions matter. Arriving prepared, putting your best foot forward, and engaging recruiters thoughtfully can help set candidates apart.

What Makes a Candidate Stand Out?

Drawing on her experience recruiting hundreds of candidates, Kelly offered other advice for students hoping to break into competitive industries.

Two men talking at Babson career fair. — Babson College President Stephen Spinelli Jr., MBA’92, PhD stopped by the career fair to welcome employers and chat with students. (Photo: Nic Czarnecki/Babson College)

1. Be open to different career paths.

Students often focus exclusively on landing a full-time role immediately after graduation. Kelly encourages them to keep an open mind.

“Being open to seasonal, part-time, or associate work is really important,” she said. “You’re not always going to get that full-time job right away.”

2. Learn to handle rejection.

Not every conversation at a career fair leads to an offer, and Kelly believes resilience is an essential career skill.

“I think being OK with hearing, ‘no,’ and knowing that it’s not personal,” she said. “We have to make a lot of hard decisions.”

3. Develop skills beyond the classroom.

Strong grades are valuable, but Kelly says recruiters also are looking for evidence that students can manage responsibilities, solve problems, and contribute in a workplace environment.

“I think being a well-rounded student is going to really help you stand out,” she said. “I’m not looking for someone who just says, ‘I’m a straight-A student.’ ”

She pointed to practical skills such as time management, organization, and workplace readiness as attributes that can separate candidates from their peers.

The Power of Babson’s Network

Occasionally, the quality work done by other Babson graduates can open a door.

Caitlin Ferguson, human resources manager at RMS USA, attended her first Babson career fair this year because Babson alumni already had impressed her. Ferguson, who has hired at least 50 employees since she began at RMS last November, said more than a dozen of those new hires were Babson graduates.

“I looked at some of the resumes that we have received for past jobs that I’ve posted over the last year, and a significant number of them that have been quality are from Babson,” Ferguson said.

And it never hurts to find common ground. Connor Nelson, a manager who was recruiting for real estate technology company BostonPads, said he often connects with fellow athletes.

“I think athletes just have a natural drive,” he said. “Which is perfect, because with real estate you get out of it exactly what you put in.”