How to Work a Job Fair
Find A Job
Attending job fairs can be an effective way to network, obtain a job or internship and gain experience selling yourself and interacting with hiring managers and other professionals
Like many other facets of the job search, the work you put in before a job fair will determine how successful the experience turns out to be.
Before a Job Fair
- Identify and research prospective employers
- Map out fair strategy (Which companies do you plan to visit? In what order?)
- Prepare your resume (Tailor resumes to your top companies)
- Rehearse your elevator speech
- Practice typical interview question responses
- Develop list of questions to ask recruiters
- Decide on proper career fair attire
During a Job Fair
- Arrive early, get your bearings
- Review list of attendees for last-minute additions
- Implement your career fair strategy
- Make a good first impression
- Be courteous, polite
- Don’t monopolize the company representative’s time
- Don’t leave without contact information (business card)
- Ask about the next steps in hiring process
- Jot down notes after you walk away from recruiter; don’t wait until the conclusion of the fair
- Stay positive; keep your energy high
After the Job Fair
- Write thank-you notes
- Write notes to anyone else you met that you want to keep in your network, other than company representatives
- Organize all your contact information, notes, and literature from the fair
- Devise a follow-up plan for companies you would like to pursue
