Career Center
Preparing for a Job Fair
- Verify if pre-registration is required to attend the job fair. Determine if it is an "open" or "closed" job fair. Closed fairs are restricted to students attending the universities that are sponsoring the event.
- Print plenty of resumés (at least 20) on resumé bond paper. Your resumé should be scannable. A cover letter is not necessary when attending a job fair.
- Be prepared to share additional documents - especially if recruiters will be doing on-site interviews at the fair. It's best to assemble a portfolio that includes work samples, a transcript copy, and reference letters. You should also include information that will be needed to complete job applications, as some recruiters prefer students to fill them out at the job fair instead of mailing them afterward. Such information would include addresses and telephone numbers of employers; addresses and dates of attendance for high school and other schools; and contact information for references.
- Find out as much as you can about the participating employers. Think of 2-3 questions for the employers you are most interested in.
- Although many of the recruiters at the fair will dress in business casual, students usually can't go wrong by dressing as if they were going to a job interview. As you select your outfit, make sure you choose comfortable (but professional) shoes - you'll be doing a lot of walking and standing.
- Lacking focus (a clear career objective) accounts for the most common mistake students make at job fairs. This is evident when students ask questions like, "What are you hiring for?" This question implies you are "shopping around"…students with a clear focus know what kind of work they want to do ask questions like, "What employment opportunities are available for someone interested in ____________?"
- When you arrive at the fair, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the layout and plan a strategy. Don't go to your top employer first…warm up with other recruiters in advance.
- Greet each employer with a smile and a firm handshake.
- How you follow-up with recruiters is key to getting an interview after the event. After you speak with each recruiter, 1) ask for his/her business card (if not available, verify his/her name and job title - be sure to get the correct spelling of names), 2) when out of sight of the recruiter, take a few minutes to make notes about what was discussed and 3) consider how your impressions (positive or negative) of that company compare with the other companies you have learned about.
- Keep your energy and enthusiasm up during the entire event. You may discover that the last employer you meet may have the job you want the most!
