Networking & Events

The people you meet here will shape where you go next.

Meaningful careers are built through meaningful relationships. Connect with employers, alumni, and industry leaders through events designed specifically for Syracuse University’s military-connected students.

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Why Networking Matters for Military-Connected Students

Most jobs are never publicly posted. They’re filled through relationships — referrals, conversations at events, and connections made long before a position opens. For military-connected students, networking also serves a second purpose: it gives you the opportunity to demonstrate, in person, the leadership and professionalism that your résumé can only describe.

VCS events are not generic career fairs. They are curated engagements with employers who specifically seek military-connected talent — people who understand service, value discipline, and are actively looking for candidates like you.

Industries Actively Recruiting SU Veterans

• Business, Finance & Consulting
• Government, Defense & Public Service
• Technology & IT
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Engineering, Manufacturing & Construction
• Nonprofit, Education & Social Impact
• Media, Communications & Marketing
• Investment Banking & Wealth Management
• Transportation, Infrastructure & Utilities
• Consumer, Retail & Hospitality

Student Veteran & Employer Networking Receptions

VCS’s flagship networking events bring military-connected students face-to-face with employers, recruiters, and professionals who actively seek veteran talent. These are not generic career fairs — every employer in the room is there specifically to meet you.

Powered by Visions Federal Credit Union, the receptions are held twice a year — once each semester — in signature venues on and near campus.

What Students Gain

• Direct access to recruiters and hiring managers from veteran-friendly employers
• Real-world practice in professional networking environments
• Insight into industries and career paths aligned with military experience
• Connections that have directly supported VCS’s 100% undergraduate placement rate

Career Connections Series

The Career Connections Series brings employers directly to military-connected students through focused panel discussions and presentations. Each session features professionals from a specific industry or career field who share how their organizations recruit veterans, what they look for in candidates, and how military experience translates into their workplace.

These sessions are smaller and more targeted than large career fairs — designed for conversation, not crowds.

What to Expect

• Panel discussions with 3–5 professionals from veteran-friendly employers
• Insights on how specific industries and companies recruit military-connected talent
• Q&A time with presenters — ask the questions you actually want answered
• Networking time before and after the formal session
• Sessions are recorded and available to students who cannot attend live — [LINK TBD]

How to Register

All Career Connections Series sessions are posted on Handshake. Log in, search for ‘Career Connections’ under Events, and register for upcoming sessions. Set notifications so you don’t miss new announcements.

View Career Connections Events

NYS Student Veteran Career Conference

Co-hosted with Fordham University, the NYS Student Veteran Career Conference brings together student veterans and military-connected students from across New York State for a focused day of career education, employer engagement, and professional development.

Employer Information Sessions

Throughout the year, employers come to campus — in person and virtually — to share information about their organizations, internship programs, full-time opportunities, and what it’s like to work there. These sessions are low-pressure, high-value opportunities to learn before you apply.

How to Find Them

All employer information sessions attended by VCS-connected employers are posted on Handshake. Log in, click Events, and filter by Information Session to see what’s coming up.

• Set up notifications for employers you’re following — you’ll be alerted when they post events
• Check Handshake weekly, especially in September–October and January–February when sessions peak
• Many sessions are virtual — you can attend from anywhere

How to Make the Most of Them

• Research the employer before attending — know their mission, recent news, and veteran hiring record
• Prepare two or three questions that show genuine interest in the organization
• Introduce yourself to the presenter before or after the session
• Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn immediately after
• Follow up with a brief email expressing your interest

View all upcoming career fairs and employer events

How to Network: A Practical Guide

Networking isn’t asking strangers for jobs.

Networking is building professional relationships before you need them. The strongest networks are built through curiosity, consistency, and genuine conversations — not transactional requests. Every career opportunity starts with a conversation.

The VCS Networking Formula

• Three meaningful conversations
• Two LinkedIn connections
• One follow-up meeting Quality always beats quantity.

How to Network: A Practical Guide

For many military-connected students, professional networking in civilian environments feels unfamiliar. The stakes feel high, the small talk feels awkward, and it’s not always clear what you’re supposed to say or do.

Here’s the truth: networking is a skill, and like every skill you’ve developed in service, it improves with deliberate practice. The framework below works for every VCS event.

Before the Event

• Register on Handshake — and actually show up. Registered no-shows are noticed by employers.
• Research the employers attending — know who they are, what they do, and why they recruit veterans
• Prepare a 30-second introduction: who you are, your background, what you’re studying, and what you’re looking for
• Bring business cards if you have them, or be ready to connect on LinkedIn on the spot
• Dress professionally — see Career Closet and Iris Photo Booth on Build Your Brand

During the Event

• Approach employers with confidence — you’ve operated in high-pressure environments; this is a conversation
• Lead with curiosity, not need — ask about the employer’s work before talking about your job search
• Translate your military experience in real time — use civilian language and focus on outcomes
• Ask one thoughtful question per employer: ‘What does success look like in your veteran hires?’ or ‘What opportunities exist for someone with a background in [your field]?’
• Collect names and contact information — LinkedIn connections, business cards, or a brief note on your phone

After the Event

• Send a brief follow-up email or LinkedIn message within 24–48 hours
• Reference something specific from your conversation — this shows you were present and engaged
• Connect on LinkedIn with a personalized note, not the default message
• Add the contact to your network tracking — keep a simple list of who you met and what was discussed
• If you expressed interest in a role, follow up with your résumé and a tailored cover letter

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Career Immersion Trips

VCS takes students to major employment markets each semester for direct, in-person access to employers and alumni. Past trips have included New York City, Central New York, and Atlanta — with employer visits, career panels, and alumni engagement built into each itinerary.

Veteran Etiquette Dinner

The Veteran Career-Ready Etiquette Dinner is one of OVMA’s most distinctive annual events — a formal dining experience that combines professional etiquette instruction with a practical lesson in navigating high-stakes civilian social environments.

Held in the Bisignano Grand Hall at the National Veterans Resource Center and hosted by an etiquette expert, the dinner connects the customs and values of military service with the protocols of professional civilian life.

What Students Learn

• Navigating formal and multi-course dining settings with confidence
• Making professional introductions and engaging in business conversation
• Understanding the cultural and historical context of formal etiquette
• Building poise and composure in formal environments — a direct asset for interviews, client meetings, and corporate events

Why It Matters

Networking receptions, employer dinners, and senior leadership meetings all carry an unspoken set of social expectations. The students who are comfortable in these environments make a stronger impression — and the Etiquette Dinner is one of the most effective ways to build that comfort before the stakes are real.

Beyond VCS Events

VCS events are built specifically for military-connected students — but they’re not the only events worth attending. Syracuse University hosts a full calendar of career fairs, employer presentations, and networking opportunities open to all students. Your college career center runs its own industry-specific programming as well. Use all of it.

The most successful students use all three networks — VCS, their college career center, and SU Career Services. Each one opens different doors.

See the career ecosystem explained in full on the Start Here page.