Rocking the Career Fair The career fair is a great opportunity to meet with different companies, find job leads, and build your network. You need to understand how to present yourself and make the most of these events. Here are a few tips. Before The Fair Your preparation should begin before you arrive at the career fair. The first thing that you need to do is identify your goal. What do you hope to accomplish at the fair? Are you looking for an internship, a job, or to network? Perhaps it is all three, but knowing exactly why you are going will help you determine how to best prepare. As the fair gets closer review the list of companies that will be attending and identify the ones that you would like to speak with. Place them in three priority groups; those you must talk with, those you would like to talk with, and those who you will talk with in your extra time. This will save you time at the fair as you know exactly where you are going. Prepare your pitch. Know what it is you are going to say and what you would like to ask. Do background research on the most important companies and write down notes to bring with you to the fair. Before you speak with a company look at your notes so you are able to make better use of your time instead of asking ignorant questions like what the company does. Make sure to dress the part. Look professional and hirable. Some students wander through the fair dressed casually talking to companies. This actually may have negative repercussions because the first impression they give to recruiters is that they are lazy and unprepared. You need to make a good impression so they look through your resume afterwards. At The Fair Pull out your list of companies and make your way through the fair in the order you have prepared previously. Approach each company warmly with a firm handshake. Be friendly and listen to the recruiter so you can best explain how you can solve the company’s issues. Often you have to wait in line to speak to company contacts. Listen to the
conversations ahead of you while you wait to gather in background information that will help you in your turn. Listen to each person you speak with even if you are not interested. Don’t burn bridges before they are even built. Perhaps one of these contacts will be useful in the future as you look for other jobs. Take notes of what the individuals talk about. Make sure you have the contact for the area you are interested in. Often the needed contact is not the recruiter but the head of another department so make sure to ask. Give out your resume. Underline your contact information your graduation date and write a note about what you discussed to help the recruiter remember you. After The Fair Make contact with the individuals you spoke with. Reach out through email, LinkedIn, or even a phone call. Thank them for the time they took in speaking with you and ask them to keep you updated in job opportunities. Organize the notes you took and record the information so it accessible in the future. The career fair is your time to shine. Regardless of if you are from a college in St George, New York, or Florida now is your time represent your school and yourself and find the job you are looking for. Photo Credit: Lafayette College, Ludovic Bertron, Jon Ashcroft