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A job fair is a great opportunity to identify immediate/future job openings and to network. A fair may be geared toward one industry , or a variety of industries. You can get details about job fairs through Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), your faculty or student associations, professional/industry associations, trade magazines and your network. You can also try searching for fairs at community spaces on campus in-person or check out online community resources, such as Eventbrite.Â
Whether you are a student or a graduate, a job fair offers many benefits. It is an opportunity to gain first-hand information about careers, industry trends , and organizations. You can meet many company representatives in one day and at one location, ; this can help you use your time, energy and money effectively since you will be networking with multiple contacts in one place. Employers will promote their companies and recruit from hundreds of potential employees. Some employers might want to conduct a formal or impromptu interview. It’s best to get prepared for a conversation about what skills, strengths and experience you have! Â
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Do a self-assessment to determine your goals and the skills you want to marketÂ
Find out which companies and organizations will be represented , and research them to figure out if they interest youÂ
Think about how your skills, knowledge , and experience can fit with the organization’s needsÂ
Prepare hard copies of your rĂ©sumĂ©, or rĂ©sumĂ©s if you have several versions, tailored to a variety of career choicesÂ
 Establish a way to easily provide your networking information  information easily Â
Have LinkedIn open on your phone so that you can easily connect with recruiters after meeting them
Create networking cards with your contact information and degree information Â
Take a notepad where you could to jot down recruiters' contact information of recruiters. Consider taking supporting documents such as reference letters, your professional portfolio (including examples of your work and accomplishments), copies of your transcript , and completed job applications. Think through whether this is an appropriate strategy for your industry; you might have to do some research to find out.Â
Compose intelligent, well-informed questions that you want to ask employersÂ
Consider practicing handshakes and a 30-45-second self-introduction. Note: More information on handshakes and alternatives can be found in the Exploring Workplace Culture section. Â
Plan what you will wear; dress as you would for a job interview
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Things to consider about job fairs
Pick up a floor map , and plan out which companies you want to visit. You may want wish to speak to representatives from companies you are really interested in after you have practiced and warmed up with some other companies firstÂ
You should take copies of your rĂ©sumĂ© to leave with employers at their request, but , ideally, you want to send (the next day) a letter or rĂ©sumĂ© that reflects the information you gained from your discussion with the employer. If you do leave a rĂ©sumĂ© on the day of the fair, follow up the next day with a letter, email, or LinkedIn messageÂ
It is best not to arrive during the last half hour of the event because employers may be tired after a long day or need to leave earlyÂ
Avoid taking an employer’s promotional materials without first talking to the company representative and then being invited to do soÂ
Consider visiting booths by yourself. You may appear to be more confident and be better able to focus and market yourself if you are on your ownÂ
It’s best not to directly ask for a job directly. Introduce yourself and ask questions of the company representativeÂ
Be mindful of the time you take with each employer. Do not spend more than ten minutes with an employer unless the representative invites you to continue the conversation. Other students will want to speak with the employer, so be careful not to monopolize an employer’s timeÂ
Collect the names of appropriate people to follow up with after the fairÂ
Be organized: take a folder to collect handouts, a calendar in case an employer wants to schedule an interview, and a pen and paper or electronic organizer to record notes and required follow-upÂ
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Listen attentively: a fair is very large, noisy, and crowded, so you want to let an employer know that they have your full attention.Â
Avoid generic questions such as, “So, tell me about your company” and discussing salary; instead, focus on specific, targeted questions based on your knowledge of them. Posing specific questions demonstrates your interest in the employer and your initiative in getting to know them.
Tailor your questions to the person you are speaking with. If you encounter a human resources representative, you could ask questions about corporate information, orientation , and working conditions. Topics appropriate for managers include how their work solves the organization's challenges. Then ask how work is assigned and evaluated, the day-to-day working conditions , and what specific training is needed. If alumni from your home institution are representing represent a company, ask them questions about their experiences with the organization, factors that contributed to their hire, hiring and typical career paths within the organization.
Prepare and practice a 30-45-second self-introduction, highlighting your knowledge, training, skills, and experience and what you can bring to the company. Close your presentation with a focused question that will engage the employer in conversation.
Relate what you learn from the employer to what you have to offer the company. After the employer has provided you with some information, you could respond with a more tailored statement, such as, “Thanks for sharing that information. I believe I would be a good fit for your program because…”
Give your rĂ©sumĂ© and ask about next steps in the hiring process. Ask the employer how to best contact them best and keep track of conversations by making notes after you have left the booth. Â
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