Career Fairs

Preparing for a Career Fair

Career fairs provide an opportunity for students to make connections with employers while searching for internships or job opportunities and to establish professional relationships through follow up. Employers attend career fairs to meet prospective applicants. Generally, interviews are not conducted. Below are tips on how to prepare for a career fair.

Before the Career Fair

• Review the list of companies attending the fair, reading the position descriptions they have available as well as the company website.
• Determine the representatives you would like to speak to and look them up before the day of the fair.
• Research what is happening in the field as well as the company(ies) themselves using web sites, journals, professional associations, and/or your contacts.
• Develop potential questions to ask the company representatives/recruiters. For example:
  • Do you have a formal internship program or are students hired individually?
  • Is there an application process with set deadlines?
  • What are the responsibilities of an intern? Do you have a job description?
  • Are there specific coursework or pre-requisites?
  • What skills and experience are you looking for in an applicant?
  • What is the application process and how long does it usually take?
• Be prepared to answer questions you may be asked by the recruiters. For example:
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • What type of position are you looking for?
  • Why have you chosen this field?
  • What experiences have you had related to this field?
  • Are you interested in particular geographic areas?
• Bring updated copies of your resume for each of the recruiters with whom you plan to speak as well as several more to leave with other organizations.
• Dress appropriately, wearing business casual attire (for men - dress pants and collared shirt/tie and jacket; for women - dress pants or a skirt and nice blouse or sweater, or a dress) is preferred.

At the Career Fair

• When approaching an employer, make eye contact, give a firm handshake, and introduce yourself.
• Listen to the employer regarding available positions and gather information.
• Ask if the employer is collecting resumes. Important: some employers have a policy that prohibits them from collecting resumes at a career fair. If they are not collecting resumes, ask them how to follow up. Take good notes!
• Ask for a business card and follow up with a thank you letter.
• Take notes about your conversations and how you intend to follow up.
• Ask employers for additional sources of information on the field such as people, professional associations, job listings, web sites, and other resources.

After the Career Fair

• Follow up according to your notes and any recruiter advice given to you. Be sure to contact any individuals to whom you were referred and meet important deadlines.
• Write a thank you email within 48 hours to the recruiters with whom you spoke, mentioning next steps you are taking and expressing your continued interest in their company and position opening.