Recruiters & Career - Recruit Darden Talent - Events

Recruiters & Career

Recruiters & Career - Recruit Darden Talent - Events

Darden Recruiting Events

Learn about recruiting events and other opportunities to access Darden MBA students.

 Recruit the Next Generation of Purpose-Driven Leaders

Thank you for your interest in recruiting Darden students!

If you are new to recruiting students at the School, the Career Center's recruiting operations team will guide you through the process and schedule recruiting activities to ensure you are successful in meeting your talent goals. Contact us today to discuss your recruiting needs.

Explore Events for Every Recruiting Need

Briefings take place on Grounds and are formal, 40-minute presentations with Q&As to network with students, communicate company culture and market opportunities. Scheduled when target student groups are not in class an can be virtual or in-person. In-person events can be coordinated in Charlottesville and/or in Arlington at UVA Darden DC Metro, Sands Family Grounds.

These events occur on Grounds or virtually and are less formal opportunities to connect company representatives and two to four students. Office hours, also known as coffee chats, can be drop-in or sign-up format. Held in public, reserved spaces or in a virtual environment in which students can come and go during a designated time slot. The sign-up list is available to employers in advance.

Darden has a number of influential student clubs. Employers may choose to partner directly with a student organization to host a targeted recruiting event. To ensure strong attendance and minimize scheduling conflicts, employers should first coordinate with the Recruiting Operations team before confirming event details. The Recruiting Operations team can then facilitate introductions to the appropriate student clubs. If you engage with a student club, you are considered an on-Grounds recruiting company and therefore all on-Grounds hiring policies apply.

Workshops at Darden provide companies an educational opportunity to deliver specific content to students about their business. Workshop discussions are topic-based and limited to two hours. Those longer than two hours will require approval from the Career Center. Students sign up in advance and the list is accessible to employers via Darden Career Link.

These off-site or virtual events are coordinated and managed by the company based on an approved date given by the Career Center.

If you intend to host evening receptions on- or off-Grounds, please do so between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. We are happy to provide you with recommended venue information to assist with early stages of planning.

Connect with Part-Time MBA (PTMBA) students through evening engagements hosted at Darden's DC Metro location, Sands Family Grounds, which is home to 180 PTMBA students. These events provide a dedicated, in-person setting for employers to build relationships with PTMBA students in a welcoming and conversational environment. Employers may host a session or program in conjunction with a PTMBA dinner, designing the evening to align with their recruiting objectives. Formats may include a company overview, panel Q&A, facilitated discussion, or casual networking. This flexible structure allows organizations to showcase their culture, share insights, and engage directly with PTMBA talent. The cost of dinner will not be incurred by the company. Dates available are below. Additional options may be available. Please reach out to Emily Funk at FunkE@darden.virginia.edu if interested.

  • 27 July
  • 30 July
  • 31 August
  • 3 September
  • 14 September
  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 26 October

 

Meet Darden Students Around the World

There are a number of ways to meet Darden students in locations other than on our Grounds in Charlottesville and Rosslyn, Virginia. Consider some of the following alternatives:

  • Darden DC Connections

    Darden DC Connections is held twice per year at UVA Darden DC, Sands Family Grounds. They are networking receptions providing the opportunity for employer representatives to connect with students and Darden alumni from across a variety of industries. These events are not intended to function as a career expo. Rather, they provide a forum for building meaningful connections, expanding networks, sharing experiences and journeys, and offering insight into your organization's recruitment process.

    Primarily targeted to students in the final year of the working professional degree MBA programs (Executive and Part-Time MBA), second year students from the full-time residential MBA program will also travel from Charlottesville for the evening reception. 

    18 September 2026

    If you or your company is interested in participating in the Fall 2025 event, please reach out to Emily Funk, Associate Director, Employer Engagement and Recruiting.

  • MBA Interview Forums

    2027 Virtual MBA Interview Forum | Dates TBD

    The Virtual MBA Interview Forum brings together students from top business schools to interview for open positions with multiple companies. Students are invited to apply for open positions and virtual interviews took place on the day of the forum. 

    Participating schools included:

    • UVA Darden
    • CMU Tepper
    • Duke Fuqua
    • Emory Goizueta
    • Cornell Johnson
    • Notre Dame Mendoza
    • Michigan Ross
    • UT Austin McCombs
    • UVC Kenan-Flagler
    • Vanderbilt Owen
    • Dartmouth Tuck

    Details regarding the 2027 interview forums will be announced soon.

  • MBA Career Fairs

    Darden students and staff typically attend national MBA career fairs. If your company is interested in connecting with Darden at these events, please contact recruiting@darden.virginia.edu.

  • Job Treks

    Job treks are an effective way to showcase your company and get to know Darden students by hosting them at your corporate headquarters. Students value having the opportunity to step inside corporate headquarters, experience your company first-hand and meet with members of your organization.

    Job trek visits typically occur during Darden School breaks (e.g., Dedicated Recruiting Days, mid-December, early January); the exceptions being locations close to Charlottesville (e.g., Washington, D.C., Richmond, Charlotte) where day-long trips are feasible on student reading days. The Darden Week on Wall Street and the Bay Area Technology Trek will take place in October.

    For more information about possible job trek visits taking place either in the U.S. or internationally, please contact recruiting@darden.virginia.edu.

  • Career Symposium: Recruiting Spotlight

    The Darden Career Symposium is a two-day immersive recruiting event dedicated to student-employer engagement and career exploration. Held on Wednesday 21 October – Thursday 22 October 2026, students and employers will convene for a range of activities including company briefings, coffee chats, and interviews for full-time opportunities. The event includes a networking reception on Wednesday evening. We encourage employers across industries and organization sizes to take advantage of this dedicated recruiting window to build relationships and engage with Darden talent.

    The timing is especially advantageous for organizations hiring into corporate, rotational and general management roles, offering a more focused environment for meaningful engagement with students. Participation is free of charge. Email recruiting@darden.virginia.edu for additional details.