How to Prepare for
a Career Fair
You need a job.
Maybe not right now, but soon. Maybe graduation is looming, or maybe you're just testing the waters. Maybe you need an internship. You've seen ads for the career fair, and you're thinking of going. Only problem is, you've never been to a career fair before. How do these work?
We got you. Here are some things to do before your career fair.
Do your research.
Ask any corporate recruiter, and they will tell you one of their biggest turnoffs: candidates who know nothing about their company, and didn't bother to find out. But that's an opportunity for you: You can find out ahead of time, through Career Fair Plus or Handshake, what companies are going to be at the career fair.
Choose three or four companies that especially interest you, and research them:
- What do they do (products and services)?
- Whom do they serve (clients)?
- What about their mission, values, culture?
- Where are they located?
- Check their social media: what new ventures are they launching?
- What are their current job postings?
Write down a few notes, or better yet, commit a few talking points to memory before you start shaking hands.
Polish your resume.
It's probably no surprise to you that your resume should be perfect: no weird or inconsistent formatting, no misspellings, no awkward sentences, and certainly no fabrications. Why? Because your resume is your one-page (no more than that, please) sales document. You are selling you!
Other tips:
- Visit the Career Center at Culverhouse to polish your resume before the career fair.
- Some recruiters will take resumes at the event, and some will not, but you should upload your resume to the Career Fair Plus app before the fair.
- Also, consider printing out several copies on the nicest paper you can afford, and putting them in a professional-looking portfolio to carry around just for the extra "wow" factor.
Craft your elevator pitch.
Career fairs are similar to speed-dating. Sure, it's unnatural and can be awkward to try to quickly connect with strangers. On the other hand, it can lead to a lasting, mutually satisfying (business) relationship if you find the right employer. And this means you need to get clear on what you want and what you have to offer, and communicate your value quickly.
Enter the elevator pitch: Who are you, what do you want, and what value do you offer to others?
For example, I am a senior marketing major, and I'm especially interested in nonprofit marketing in the art and culture areas. I've been writing for The Crimson White for two years, and my ability to write for various audiences can help launch new campaigns, and ultimately open up new sources of funding.
Dress for success.
There's an old saying: Dress for the job you want. So if you're wondering what to wear to a career fair, you should dress like an emerging professional, not a casual college student.
Ideally, this means professional attire: dark suit and button down shirt or blouse, necktie, dress shoes. However, business casual is also acceptable: dress pants, dress shirts, casual dresses, nice shoes or loafers, jacket or tie optional.
Avoid distracting jewelry, heavy perfume or cologne, shorts, short skirts or dresses, jeans or sweatpants, hoodies, t-shirts, revealing outfits, slides, and sneakers.
Don't have or cannot afford nicer clothing right now? No problem: You can make an appointment on Handshake to visit the Denise and Chandler Root Crimson Career Closet and borrow a smart outfit for the event. Just make sure you don't wait too long: items tend to disappear quickly before career fairs.
Nail the first impression.
On the day of the career fair, you'll check in and make a name tag. You'll notice that there are employers on both sides of the concourse, and there might be lines in front of some popular employers. If you have to wait, be patient and give your peers space to have their conversations.
When it's your turn, don't forget to scan the Career Fair Plus code at the table. Then smile, introduce yourself with a firm handshake, and keep an upbeat attitude. Keep good posture and eye contact, and let the conversation develop naturally--don't jump into your elevator pitch too quickly. Ask good questions based on your research, but don't ask about pay or benefits.
If you like, you can practice interviewing with the Career Center at Culverhouse before or during the event. Don't grab for swag; wait until the recruiter offers. And keep an open mind. This may not be your first choice of company, but you might be surprised. Don't rush through the conversation, but be prepared to wrap up when the recruiter signals it.
Follow up strong.
Before you go, ask the recruiter how to follow up.
They may tell you to apply for a position through Handshake or their own website.
You can also follow the employer through LinkedIn (make sure your profile is strong first; the Career Center at Culverhouse can help with this), and attend sessions that the employer offers. Look for these on Handshake, and if you go, introduce yourself to the speaker and tell them you spoke with someone at the career fair.
Finally, it's never a bad idea to send a personalized follow-up email thanking the recruiter for the conversation. Reference something specific from the conversation that they might remember, and tell them again that you are interested in working with them. But spend a little extra time on the email, making sure it is grammatically correct and professional. Polish sells!
Do these things, and you should have a very good shot of making good connections at the career fair, and perhaps even landing a job or internship offer. If you feel nervous, that's normal and understandable. But remember: you are a Culverhouse or Manderson student, so you have valuable skills and are very employable in the job market. Take a few deep breaths, smile, and jump in.
Who knows? It might even be fun.
