How to Get the Most Out of a Career Fair

Information about professional opportunities and career options is provided at career and job fairs by employers who attend these events to meet students and recruit employees. How you participate in a career fair depends upon your current career needs and goals. As a student or alumnus attending a career fair, you may be actively job seeking, gathering career information or developing your network of career contacts. Ask specific questions and be prepared to answer those of employers.

What Employers Want From You

Want you to demonstrate that you have done your homework and researched their company.
Be prepared! Develop questions to ask; courteously and enthusiastically engage the representatives.
A firm hand shake and good eye contact.
Never ask about salary; let them bring up the subject.
Enthusiasm, a smile and plenty of resumes.
An expectation that you will be responsible for following up with them; including a thank you note or letter.
Be prepared! Have your resume critiqued by Career Services and dress appropriately.
Take the initiative! Walk up to them and engage the employers; they are hear to speak to you!

What Employers May Want to Learn About You

Specific career/job objectives. What are your expectations.
Individual strengths and weaknesses. Have specific examples that demonstrate your skills; develop short stories that showcase your skills.
Contributions you will make to the operation. Remember, be specific, now is not the time to blandly or generically discuss what you can do.

What to Learn From Employers

Employment trends. Career Fairs are excellent resources for information about career decision-making.
Skills necessary for different careers/jobs. Have meaningful conversations with representatives.
Current/future positions.
Salary, benefits, training, and other information about the company.
Who to contact for follow-up discussions and what their hiring processes are, get specifics.
Collect their business card or write down their contact information.

Make the Most of Your Career Fair Experience

Have a pen/pencil and paper available for notes.
Bring plenty of resumes and something to put materials in, a portfolio works great.
Review the employer list. Determine where employers are located and in what order to visit them.
Broaden your focus and include many type of employers. For instance, although you may not have thought of working for a hospital, hospitals recruit and hire professionals in many different fields.
Be aware of time demands of employers. Do not monopolize the employers' time. Ask specific questions and offer to follow up after the fair, as appropriate.
Be direct. Introduce yourself. If you are job seeking, state the type of position you are interested in. If you are gathering information, let employers know that you are only interested in materials and information.
Ask for employers' business cards for follow-up discussions. Send a "thank you" card (preferably within 48 hours of the Career Fair).
Stay in Contact and use this experience to EXPAND your network.
Submit an additional or amended resume during your follow-up contacts.
Follow-up and follow-through contacts are up to the student, be persistent and polite.