Tips & Tricks for Attending a Career Fair

Career Fairs are great resources to learn about job opportunities and make contact with recruiters that could lead to an interview. It is crucial to show up prepared and ready to make a great impression.

Listed below are suggestions and tips to think about before you attend a career fair. This is meant to be used as a helpful tool and not as a required list.

Prepare

Research the company you want to engage. Explore their current career opportunities as well as their company culture, values, mission, and goals.

Dress to Impress

First impressions are key to capturing an exhibitor’s attention. Taking the time to dress appropriately shows respect for the company and yourself, and shows the company that you are taking this opportunity seriously.

Resume

Bring several printed copies of your most current and up-to-date resume. Some exhibitors may prefer keeping a hard copy resume that they can review and take notes on for follow-up conversations. Note: if you are provided a business card, follow-up within the next few days.

Linkedln

Create and/or update your Linkedln account. Be sure to include your first and last name and up-to-date contact information. Highlight your main objective and any significant awards or special community recognitions you have received. Note: avoid unprofessional photos, nick names, bias or unacceptable slurs, inappropriate language, and quotes.

Elevator Pitch

Write and practice your elevator pitch-it’s the key to a good first impression. It should be short, direct, and to the point. Include your name, college or educational institution, and what year you are currently in. Additionally, provide a quick summary of your resume, including any experience you have that is relevant to the company you are speaking with.

When you give your pitch, introduce yourself, make direct eye contact, exhibit good posture, and offer your hand for a handshake if appropriate. Remember, the recruiter will most likely be skimming your resume while you are speaking, so it is important to be precise and to the point.

Note: there will be a room full of prospective applicants with your experience. Share with the recruiter what makes you stand out from them-this could be a passion or career path you are interested in, as well as extracurricular activities you participate in.

Create an Agenda

Go to your top companies first. Career fairs can be exhausting for you, and for the exhibitors. It’s best to visit the three companies you are most interested in first, this way you’ll be able to provide an energetic elevator speech to a more engaged company representative.

Engage

When you speak with the recruiter, ask questions about the company utilizing the research you did in the beginning. Ask the representative questions about working with the company, how long they have been employed there, and what drew them to working for that company.

Notes

Have a notebook and writing utensil easily accessible. Take notes on the information you heard, including the name of the recruiter you are speaking with and their position. This will help you with follow-up conversations.

Follow-Up

If you ask for a business card, follow-up. Exhibitors pass out hundreds of business cards, so if you request one, ensure you follow-up within a week of the conference. When following up, provide your name and mention the event in which you spoke to the representative.

Stay Positive

As mentioned before, these events can be long and tiring. There are often lines to wait in and lots of events (seminars) going on consecutively. Take your time and follow the guidance above. But most importantly, stay positive.