Preparing for a Career Fair
Attending a career fair will help you identify the right career path by connecting you with like-minded individuals in similar fields. Additionally, you'll begin building your professional network!
Decide what your goal is for the career fair
You should decide whether you will market yourself for an interview or simply collect company information. Determine if you will be ready to pass out resumes or if you would prefer to collect business cards and apply later when you can include a cover letter.
Dress Appropriately
Dress as you would for a typical day at the job you are seeking. It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed!
Have a solid resume prepared and bring multiple copies
You will have a short amount of time to talk to employers, so if they accept it, leave a resume to remind them of your qualifications. Make sure your resume is error-free and easy to read. Avoid using "creative" fonts or cramming information into a tiny font size. Have a PDF copy available on your phone to send if recruiters don’t accept physical copies.
Do background research on the organizations that will be in attendance
Get a list of the companies attending the career fair so you can start your research early and know which organizations you want to visit with the day of the fair. Learn basic information such as their company goals, positions typically open to recent graduates, and the organization's size. This will help you match your interests and abilities to each company and identify the employers you want to seek out at the fair. Recruiters prefer to spend their time learning about your qualifications to see if you’re a good match rather than explaining basic company information.
Elevator Speech
Be ready to highlight the key things you want the employer to know about you. Start by greeting them and introducing yourself with your name, major, class year, and whether you’re seeking a full-time job, co-op, or internship. Share why you’re interested in their organization and how your interests and abilities align with their needs. Practicing your pitch will help you feel more comfortable starting conversations with employers.
Have questions prepared to ask the employer
What do you want to know about the company? Focus on asking about typical entry-level jobs, job responsibilities, qualifications, training, and the possibility of travel or relocation, but avoid questions about pay or personal topics. When you hand over your resume, ask about the next steps in the process or how to stay informed about open positions; recruiters can usually provide a website address where positions are listed.
Connect on LinkedIn
If possible, obtain the business card from the recruiters of the companies that interest you the most, and then connect with them on LinkedIn. Send a thank-you message through LinkedIn within the week.