Career Fair Tips

How to Make a Career Fair Work for You

Career Fairs have grown in popularity in recent years. Whether sponsored by a university, a consortium of colleges or a private organization, the Career Fair has emerged as an effective recruiting vehicle for employers. They are an alternative to the university's on-campus recruiting program and an additional job-hunting strategy for students to use.

To the uninitiated, unprepared job seeker, Career Fairs can be confusing, overwhelming and intimidating. The noise, crowds, long rows of employer booths and even longer lines of anxiously waiting candidates may add to the apprehension.

The following tips on how to prepare, how to present yourself, and what to expect afterwards can help you feel more confident and have a more successful Career Fair experience.

How to Prepare for a Career Fair

• Clarify your goals and what you want to get out of the Career Fair. Check to be sure your goals and expectations are consistent with the purpose of the event. Employers attend Career Fairs for several reasons: to increase awareness of their organization; to provide career information; to increase their applicant pool; and to locate good candidates for jobs they are trying to fill now or in the future.
• Research the employers and narrow the list to the most promising. Know enough about these employers to tell why you are interested and to connect your background to their needs.
• Prepare a resume that presents your background and interests clearly and concisely. Employers will want to know about your education, such as major, relevant courses and GPA as well as your employment experiences, extracurricular activities and volunteer work.
• Prepare a one-minute "commercial" that introduces yourself, demonstrates that you know something about the organization and the work it does, expresses why you are interested in the organization, and briefly relates your background to what you know about the employer's needs.
• Practice your commercial. Try to anticipate the kind of questions employers might ask and prepare sample answers. The best way to make a positive lasting impression is by relating your interests and goals to what you know or can discover about the employer's needs. When approaching an employer you know little about, ask several probing questions that will obtain the information needed to connect your background, interests and goals.
• Prepare questions you want employers to answer.

During the Career Fair - Getting the Message Across

Employers will be impressed by job candidates who:

• Dress and act professionally
• Demonstrate confidence, interest and enthusiasm
• Have good non-verbal skills - direct eye contact and firm handshake - and avoid distracting mannerisms.
• Answer questions clearly and concisely
• Ask questions that are appropriate (e.g., avoid initial questions about salary and benefits), and that demonstrate knowledge about the company and industry.
  Samples:

  I'm __________and a __________major. Can you describe entry-level positions in your company for someone with my background?

  I'm glad that your company is here. Your company 's material raised several questions for me. Is it correct that you are seeking candidates with a background in __________?

  My name is __________and I'm very interested in your company. What does the company weigh most when selecting candidates? Grades? Major? Experience? Campus activities?

• Are well-organized and have their resumes available

The Follow-Up

It is important to take the initiative to make a timely, appropriate and effective follow-up. Before leaving an employer, ask how you should best follow-up, who the contact person is and what is the telephone number to call. Ask the employer how soon it will be before you hear from the organization and/or if you should call or write yourself. Obtaining a business card from the employer is helpful.

As corporate belt-tightening and other cost containment factors result in reduced on-campus recruiting activity, Career Fairs become an increasingly attractive way to link potential employees and employers. With proper preparation, and follow-up, a Career Fair can be a valuable part of your job search plan.

Adapted from "How to Make Job Fairs Work for Your Students", Patricia Carretta, George Mason University. The article appeared in Career Waves, Winter 1991.